We often take certain sounds for granted, like the wind blowing, waves breaking on the shore, or a simple conversation with someone close to us. These everyday sounds had become increasingly difficult for Mr Palmer to hear. A former British Army infantry soldier, Mr Palmer had been living with hearing difficulties for many years; his hearing loss affected his conversations, his work and even the quieter moments of life he wished to enjoy. The support from the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation (UKVHF) and funding from the Veterans’ Foundation through the Veterans Lottery, Mr Palmer has now received a pair of Phonak Audéo L90 hearing aids fitted at Hear4U Leicester.
A military career with a lasting impact on hearing
Mr Palmer served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, including operational tours in Cyprus and Northern Ireland. During his time in the Army, he was regularly exposed to loud noises from live firing exercises and pyrotechnics. Back then, hearing protection was rarely provided, and in certain situations, especially during his service in Northern Ireland, wearing ear protection was neither practical nor safe.
After years, the effects of this noise exposure continued to affect his daily life. Alongside his hearing loss, Mr Palmer also experienced daily tinnitus, with sounds varying in pitch and frequency. While his military service had come to an end decade earlier, the hearing difficulties he associated with those years continued to follow him into everyday life.
Missing words and little sounds of life
Hearing loss was about much more than struggling to hear someone speaking for Mr Palmer. He described how conversations often became a guessing game, and sometimes, he would hear only one or two words and have to work out the rest of the sentence himself. Naturally, this led to misunderstandings and made social situations difficult.
His hearing difficulties also affected his professional life; working with people with disabilities, some of whom experienced speech difficulties themselves, made clear communication particularly important. Mr Palmer had previously received NHS hearing aids, but he struggled to get along with them and, instead of helping him distinguish the sounds he was missing, he felt they amplified everything and that included his own voice and breathing. As a result, hearing became louder without necessarily becoming clearer. Beyond conversations, there were other things he missed.
He spoke about being unable to hear the sea or the wind unless they were particularly loud. These might seem like small things, but for someone living with hearing loss, missing them means losing part of their experience. One line from his application that stayed with us:
‘There are certain moments in life that you cannot replicate and a lot of the time it is a sound that makes it perfect.’
His words are a reminder of why access to suitable hearing care matters in today’s time. Sometimes, people simply want to hear the ordinary sounds around them without having to struggle.
Finding hearing care suited to his needs
Recognising the difficulties Mr Palmer was experiencing, the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation was pleased to help him access further hearing support. Thanks to generous funding from the Veterans’ Foundation through the Veterans Lottery, Mr Palmer received a pair of Phonak Audeo L90 hearing aids. His fitting was carried out by the audiology team at Hear4U Leicester, where attention was given to his hearing needs and comfort.
After previously finding hearing aids uncomfortable to use and difficult to manage, having a positive fitting experience was particularly important. The aim here was to provide Mr Palmer with hearing aids suited to his needs, allowing him to experience sound in a way he would find more comfortable and natural.
A comfortable fit and a more natural sound
Mr Palmer has shared some lovely feedback with our team after his fitting,
‘I have found the aids very comfortable to wear. The sound quality is great, not too loud but very natural.’
These words are encouraging given his earlier experience with hearing aids. Mr Palmer also took the time to acknowledge the care he received during his appointment.
‘The audiologist who fitted them was very thorough and attentive’.
To hear feedback like this means a great deal for our team. Mr Palmer had previously described the frustration of listening to conversations without being able to make sense of every word, along with the disappointment of missing familiar sounds. Though everyone’s experience of hearing loss is different, his feedback highlights the importance of finding hearing aids suited to the individual rather than simply making sounds louder. We are happy to hear he is finding his new hearing aids comfortable and enjoying their natural sound quality.
Supporting those who have served
Mr Palmer’s story is one of the many reasons the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation continues its work supporting former service personnel experiencing hearing difficulties. For all those veterans who have spent years living with these effects of noise exposure during military service, it is important to find suitable hearing care more than receiving a new pair of hearing aids. It is about being listened to, understanding their individual needs, and helping them access the support they deserve.
Our sincere thanks to the Veterans’ Foundation and everyone who supports the Veterans Lottery for making Mr Palmer’s hearing care possible. Our thanks also go to the team at Hear4U Leicester for their attentive care throughout his fitting.
We wish Mr Palmer all the best and hope his new hearing aids continue to bring greater comfort to his everyday listening experiences.
