Former engineer Bruce Gordon is an ACC casualty of industrial hearing loss.
More than 10 years ago, he noticed his hearing fading, and when he was checked his hearing loss was directly attributed to his 40-odd years working as a boilermaker.
Years of clanging hammers, the screech of metal on metal while
working inside massive steel boilers.
Mr Gordon said there were no earmuffs in those days, and your ears took a real thrashing but no one realised the end result would be deafness.
Over the past two weeks the latest technology in hearing aids has been life-changing for him, he said.
Mr Gordon has been fitted with the new open aid in each ear.
"Brillant, just brilliant. Feels great, it really does. Yes, I'm very happy."
Wanganui audiologist Ross Mitchell said the open hearing aid sits just behind the ear, preventing that "blocked" feeling the old-style aids created for the wearer.
"These are so much more successful."
Mr Gordon's new aids in both ears cost ACC $7500, he said.
National Deaf Awareness week starts on Monday, September 24, and in the lead-up the week before, Mr Mitchell said he would be conduct free hearing consultations on Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st at his rooms. He said people not sure about their hearing should take up the offer.
"It was ages before I did. I should have done it sooner. I used to drive my wife mad, because I always had the Tv turned up so loud she would have to leave the room," Mr Gordon said.
Pay just
per week ongoing
Pay just
per year ongoing
30
