Hearing has always played an important role in the life of our Royal Navy veteran, Mr David Taunt; he has spent years serving his country and now living with sight loss, being able to hear and communicate clearly means more to him than ever. With support from the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation (UKVHF), David was recently fitted with a pair of Oticon Intent hearing aids at Reeds Hearing Care, funded by the Veterans’ Foundation through the Veterans Lottery.
The difference that Mr Taunt has rated his new hearing aids is 9 out of 10 compared with his previous NHS hearing aids.
A lifetime of service and its lasting effects
Mr Taunt joined the Royal Navy in 1958 and served until 1970, and during his 12 years of service, he experienced working conditions where exposure to loud noise was part of day-to-day life. He recalls the sound of large marine diesel engines operating in confined spaces and heavy artillery fire aboard warships. His service also included exposure to approximately 30 nuclear bomb tests, including those associated with Christmas Island.
While these experiences form part of his naval history, Mr Taunt has lived with hearing difficulties which have affected his everyday life long after leaving the Armed Forces. The simple activities like watching television, taking part in conversations and socialising with others had become increasingly difficult. Mr Taunt also lives with sight loss caused by macular degeneration; when one sense is affected, relying on another becomes even more important. Being able to hear the people around him and remain involved in conversations is an important part of maintaining his independence and connection with others for Mr Taunt.
Finding the hearing support he needed
Mr Taunt’s journey towards better hearing brought him to the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation, where he received support to access hearing care suited to his needs. Thanks to the funding from the Veterans’ Foundation (Veterans Lottery), Mr Taunt was fitted with a pair of Oticon Intent hearing aids at Reeds Hearing Care.
Throughout these appointments, he was supported by Laura Reed, whose patience and professionalism left a lasting impression on him. He has experienced hearing difficulties for years, and receiving new hearing aids is about more than hearing sounds more clearly; it is also about feeling comfortable with the care provided, having concerns listened to and finding a solution which works for everyday life.
Here’s what Mr Taunt has to say
Following his fitting, Mr Taunt shared his experience with us, and his response was wonderful to receive.
‘On a score of 1 to 10, I would report a measure of 9 out of 10 compared to my old NHS aids. I would like to commend Laura Reed for her patience and her professionalism and to thank Veterans Hearing Association for improving my quality of life as I’m blind. I am sure you can appreciate the difference this has made.’
His words speak for themselves. The imrpovement in Mr taunt’s hearing has made a meaningful difference, particularly alongside the challenges of living with sight loss. His experience reminds us how much we depend on our hearing in our everyday lives, be it to follow a conversation, enjoy TV or simply feel connected to people beside us.
Giving back to those who served
At the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation, stories like Mr Taunt’s are the heart of why we do what we do. Many veterans continue to experience hearing difficulties years after their military service, and accessing suitable hearing care is an important step towards improving their quality of life.
We would like to extend our sincere thank you to the Veterans’ Foundation for making Mr Taunt’s hearing care possible and to Laura Reed and the team at the Reeds Hearing care for their dedicated support. We would also like to thank Mr David Taunt for sharing his experience and for his years of service; we are delighted to hear how pleased he is with his new hearing aids and wish him many more years of better hearing.
