David Tester, a 36-year-old man from Hackney, London, recently had an emotional moment when he tried on a hearing aid for the first time. David had been struggling with his hearing for about two years before he finally decided to get it tested.
At the age of 34, David was shocked to learn that he had the hearing of a 60-year-old. Initially, the audiologist suggested that his hearing was not poor enough to take any action and advised him to monitor it. However, over a year later, David and those around him noticed a further decline in his hearing, and his doctor confirmed the worsening condition.
During a consultation on July 10, David was in his audiologist’s office when the hearing aid was turned on for the first time. Tears welled up in his eyes as he was overcome with emotion upon hearing the sound clearly for the first time. David described the moment as transformative, realizing what he had been missing out on all this time.
David had started noticing a decline in his hearing in 2022 and sought help from an audiologist six months later. He particularly struggled to hear people sitting next to him in loud, crowded places. Although the exact cause of his hearing loss remains unclear, David believes it may be linked to his time spent near club speakers during nights out.
The gradual change in his hearing made it hard for David to realize the extent of his hearing loss until he tried the hearing aid. He recalled feeling the need to ask people to repeat themselves frequently, especially in noisy environments like restaurants and bars. The anticipation of receiving his hearing aid, which he ordered on July 25, fills David with excitement as he looks forward to using it in his daily life.
Despite the cost of £1800, David decided to invest in the hearing aid as the NHS range did not suit his specific needs. He is eagerly awaiting its arrival and expects that it will greatly improve his quality of life. David is grateful for the opportunity to experience the world with enhanced hearing and is excited for the people around him who will no longer have to repeat themselves constantly.