We asked our expert audiologist questions about motivations, drivers and personal reasons they love hearing care. Get to know our amazing audiologists, Barbara and Rebecca below.
What is the Mary Hare Hearing Centre?
"The Mary Hare Hearing Centre is a clinic located in Newbury town centre, offering private Audiology services for adults.
Our services include hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, aftercare services for our existing patients, and wax removal. We aim to improve the lifestyle and enhance communication for those with hearing loss, promoting independence and confidence."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
How is the MHHC different to other private hearing clinics?
"At the MHHC we provide fully personalized hearing services to our patients. We aim to provide our patients with the best solution to fit their hearing needs right from their initial assessment with us. At the time of the fitting, we use Real Ear Measurements to fully customize the hearing aids to our customers'individual ears and hearing losses.
When purchasing a hearing aid from us, our customers are buying into a package. This includes our outstanding aftercare services. With two full time audiologists in house, we really take the time to look after our patients for years after their hearing aid purchase, making sure they are happy with their devicesfor years to come. We also offer free wax removal services to our existing customers, as a part of their aftercare, so wax build up does not prevent them from hearing well with their new hearing aids.
One of the things that also sets us apart from the competition is that we are an independent provider, with a small and friendly team. This means we are able to offer a consistent service to our patients, where they are able to see the same Audiologist at their aftercare appointments.
We are connected to the Mary Hare School for the Deaf, and 50% of our profits go directly to them. This means we can make a real impact on these children’s lives."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
What do you like most about working at the MHHC?
"Being part of a small team really makes it a joy coming into work every day. Our team is a closely knit team, which is very much reflected in our interactions with the public. Our aim is to provide an approachable, friendly service to all our customers. In addition to this, the fact that we are able to make a difference to children’s lives by helping the school really sets us apart."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
"I really appreciate the opportunity to provide person-centered care; I have the time during appointments to really listen to my patients’ hearing needs to allow me to tailor solutions accordingly. Additionally having access to top-of-the-range equipment and hearing aids supports me in providing high quality assessments and hearing care. On top of all of this, knowing that 50% of the Hearing Centre profits go towards supporting the Mary Hare School, which provides specialized education for deaf children and young people, makes my work even more rewarding."
Rebecca - Audiologist
What should patients expect when they come in for a free hearing assessment?
"We pride ourselves on providing thorough hearing assessments free of charge. Your hearing assessment will usually take between one hour to one and a half hour. During a first assessment your audiologist will aim to get a good understanding of your hearing and medical history in order to tailor the assessment to your specific needs and concerns. It can be helpful to bring a partner, family member or friend to assist in discussion about your hearing needs. The audiologist will then perform a series of tests including looking in your ears to examine the health of your ear canals and ear drums, and a full diagnostic hearing test. The audiologist will be able to explain the results to you on the day and make recommendations about hearing options or referrals that might be suitable for you."
Rebecca - Audiologist
"My hearing aid is 10 years old and doesn’t work properly anymore” – How can you help this person?
"We’re always happy to discuss the hearing aid options that we provide! Over the last decade there have been significant advances to hearing aid technology including better sound quality, rechargeable options, and advanced features such as Bluetooth connectivity. More recently, Starkey’s introduction of AI technology in hearing devices and other sound processing mechanisms means that there have been great improvements in hearing aids’ ability to help you to hear speech in noisier environments."
Rebecca - Audiologist
Why should someone spend more on a top of the range hearing aid from the MHHC?
"At the MHHC we have different technology levels available to our customers. At the initial consultation, we ask medical and lifestyle questions, to try and better understand in which areas of their life our customers are struggling with their hearing. This, and their hearing loss shape and degree, really affects the advice we give at the end of the consultation, in terms of which level of technology they should go for.
Higher technology ranges provide better speech intelligibility in all areas, including in noisy environments, like restaurants and social gatherings. When patients have an active lifestyle and regularly go out socially, they really notice a benefit when opting for a top of the range model."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
How do I know if I have hearing loss?
"A lot of people only start noticing they have some hearing loss because their family and friends tell them they are missing things. Other times, people start gradually noticing they are missing certain sounds or beginnings and ends of sentences. When this happens, it is a good idea to consider a hearing test.
You can start by doing our online hearing test, which will guide you in knowing if you require a further appointment and advice. If this is the case, we offer two types of appointments. The first type is a shorter appointment called a screening, which includes a hearing test and explanation of the results, with the aim of ruling out any major medical issues or concerns and assessing your hearing levels. The second type is a longer, more in-depth appointment, called an initial assessment, in which we do the same as in the screening but also have a discussion about possible solutions that can help you hear better. This would be a discussion on hearing aid benefits, types and costs. All of these are currently free appointments."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
Why did you become an audiologist?
"All my life I always wanted to do something to help people. From early on, I knew healthcare would allow me to do this. I also really enjoy technology, so Audiology seemed to be the perfect combination of both. I find it very rewarding to listen to my patients and ultimately help them improve their lives, by helping them hear their loved ones better."
Barbara - Clinic Manager
"One of the most important things in my life is being able to catch up with friends and family, and so I’m passionate about helping others to stay connected to the people and sounds that are important to them. This role has offered me the perfect mix of getting to know my patients on a personal level and using my scientific skills to provide effective solutions. It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone to hear better and to see the positive impact it has on their relationships and overall quality of life."
Rebecca - Audiologist
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