Hearing aids for Music – Eric Hill

eric-hill-03-smallPlaying and listening to music, especially the acoustic classical guitar, has been central to my life. After far too many years putting up with  tinnitus, (a hissing radiator sound), and a habit of frequently asking people  to repeat words, I conquered my professional musician, psychological barriers to wearing hearing aids and sought help. I first tried the NHS and discovered that the free hearing aids made violins in particular sound like chalk scraping on a blackboard.  A love of music was not made very important in the consultation; it was all about recognition of words.  I decided to “go private” and came to Paul Checkley . I was fitted with a pair of extremely discrete Widex hearing aids and I played my guitar and listened to orchestral and jazz music as part of the computer “tuning” of the aids. This was in addition to an exhaustive analysis of my response to words. The result has been wonderful, particularly as I have learned to control them using the remote wireless volume control. At the start of orchestral concerts I establish the loudest part, (usually the brass section), and adjust to that. I love starting the day by putting BBC Radio 3 on and hearing the music come alive as I put the aids in place. Without them it sounds as if it’s been smothered in cotton wool! Thank you Paul and the Harley Street Hearing group.

Eric Hill. 


North London HearingAll our staff are highly skilled audiological practitioners who are trained in healthcare provision.  As we are registered with the Health Professions Council, we can accept self-referrals, or referrals direct from your GP or from Ear, Nose and Throat specialists across the UK.  Established for 25 years, we are part of the Harley Street Hearing Group, London's leading independent hearing clinics, and are North London's only Lyric Centre. 

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