IRISH singer Mary Black has teamed up with Specsavers Ireland this Healthy Hearing Month, to encourage the nation to take action and look after their hearing.
In the third year of Specsavers’ Healthy Hearing Month campaign, Mary has joined the audiology experts to turn up the volume on hearing health, as she opens up about her own personal hearing loss journey.
As part of the campaign, Mary joined Specsavers on the bustling South King Street in Dublin city centre today, where an attention-catching stunt was held. Musicians performed inside a three by three-metre soundproof box. Specsavers then encouraged passers-by to try on specialised headphones, which simulated different types of hearing loss.
Speaking about her own hearing loss journey, folk singer Mary Black, explains: ‘Working in the music industry, I’ve come to understand how important looking after my hearing is, not only for my career but for my overall quality of life.
Over the last number of years, I have noticed my hearing deteriorate, most likely due to being close to loud monitors on stage but I really noticed it more after I had Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears.
I recently got my hearing checked and the audiologist at my local Specsavers store let me know that I’d really benefit from hearing aids.
‘Once these were fitted, I couldn’t believe the difference they made to my life. I love singing and performing and listening to music and being able to hear everything more clearly over the last few weeks has been fantastic. Nobody wants to be left missing sounds so it’s important that we work together to normalise the conversation around hearing loss and encourage people who might be struggling to seek help from an expert.’
Recent research, from Specsavers, found that 42% of adults currently struggle with their hearing or know a loved one who is struggling.
Yet almost a third of adults (28%) have never gone for a routine hearing test.
When it first launched Healthy Hearing Month back in April 2021, Specsavers pledged to test and screen a quarter of a million people over a two-year period and is now incredibly close to reaching this target.