How military service affected Matthew’s hearing
Mr Smallwood served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) from January 2013 until September 2022, including service during Operation Shader. During his deployment, his role involved diagnosing faults in generators and other loud equipment. Working around high noise levels, with minimal hearing protection during certain activities, contributed to the hearing difficulties he later experienced.
Over time, Mr Smallwood began noticing how much his hearing loss was affecting his daily life. In his application to us at UKVHF, he explained how difficult group conversations had become. He often needed people to repeat themselves and sometimes struggled to remain involved in discussions. He also experienced tinnitus, which made distinguishing certain everyday sounds difficult and that included the sound of a doorbell. These difficulties gradually affected his confidence in social situations, leaving him feeling increasingly isolated.
Getting the hearing support
After seeking help for his hearing difficulties, Mr Smallwood approached the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation for support. The Stafford Trust provided the funding, and Mr Smallwood received a pair of Phonak Audéo hearing aids, professionally fitted by Aberdeen Inverness Hearing Services. The aim was to help Mr Smallwood manage his hearing loss and improve his ability to hear and communicate in everyday situations.
When our team contacted Mr Smallwood to see how he was getting on with his new hearing aids, his response spoke for itself. “I am actually ecstatic with them. I have been really impressed with how much of a difference they have made.”
Mr Smallwood also shared something he had found particularly interesting. Since wearing his hearing aids, he had noticed a specific tone he was unable to hear without them. For someone who had spent years experiencing hearing difficulties, recognising previously missed sounds was a meaningful change.
An unexpected benefit beyond better hearing
While Mr Smallwood was delighted with the improvement in his hearing, he also shared another unexpected benefit. His Phonak Audéo hearing aids allow him to stream music directly, something he has found particularly helpful during difficult moments. Having his favourite music within easy reach offers a sense of comfort and helps him manage his emotions when things feel overwhelming for Mr Smallwood.
Instead of withdrawing from his surroundings, he finds listening to music helps him carry on with his daily activities. This has become more than a convenient feature of his hearing aids. It has given Mr Smallwood another way to look after his emotional wellbeing while enjoying the sounds he loves. His experience is a lovely reminder that better hearing sometimes brings benefits beyond simply hearing more clearly.
A positive change in everyday life
Mr Smallwood’s journey is a reminder of how a hearing loss can affect different aspects of a person’s life, from following conversations to feeling comfortable in social situations. With the right hearing aids and professional support, Mr Smallwood has experienced a positive change in how he hears and manages everyday activities.
His feedback ended with a message of genuine appreciation:
“So overall, I’m genuinely delighted with them and really grateful for the difference they’ve made.”
We are pleased to hear how well Mr Smallwood is getting on with his new hearing aids. A special thank you to the Stafford Trust for funding Mr Smallwood’s hearing support and to Aberdeen Inverness Hearing Services for providing his hearing care. Their support has helped another veteran access hearing technology suited to his needs.
Supporting veterans with hearing loss
At the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation (UKVHF), we understand how hearing loss and tinnitus affect veterans long after their service has ended, and our mission is to help eligible UK veterans access hearing assessments, hearing aids and professional hearing care through the support of our funding partners and hearing care providers.
Mr Smallwood’s story shows why this work matters; better hearing is not only about hearing more sounds, but it is also about feeling involved in everyday life and having access to support suited to individual needs.
