Why take control of your hearing?

The old-fashioned approach to looking after our hearing was to take it for granted, then wait until many years after a friend or family member had pointed out a problem with our hearing before having it checked out.

Of course the problems with that approach, as we all well know, are that:

• Firstly, it puts us on the defensive if someone points out a hearing problem. ("No I don't! It's you! You mumble!")

• Secondly, it catches a problem after it's become more serious (and all the complications this might have led to).

• Thirdly, it means that we've spent years missing out on conversations and other auditory stimulation that we'll never be able to get back. 

The 21st Century approach to looking after our hearing is far more pro-active. It means taking control of our own hearing throughout life.

This approach begins with a recognition of how important our hearing is to us individually, and to the people around us. And it follows with a determination to keep our hearing working at its very best.

But firstly, we need to learn to become more aware of our hearing, and what it does for us in daily life. And for that we need to know how to check our own hearing...