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A young woman from Birkenhead was diagnosed with hearing loss after a routine visit to Specsavers.
As reported by the Wirral Globe, 20-year-old Lacey Haydn went with a friend to pick up her glasses at the Birkenhead branch, located in the town centre. She was offered the chance to try the store's new hearing screening service. This identifies potential hearing issues, supposedly in three minutes!
The screening service has been rolled out by the opticians through their audiologists. Alongside the free test, people can have an earwax removal, a free online hearing check, and other specialist care if needed.
As Lacy was screened, the test showed possible signs of problems. She had a follow-up appointment, which confirmed she had some hearing loss. As part of that result, she was then fitted with hearing aids at the same branch.
She said in a statement: "I can't quite believe the journey I've been on from discovering my hearing loss to where I am now. I never expected to go into Specsavers for an appointment with my friend and come out uncovering that I had hearing loss."
Ms Haydn explained she had unknowingly been compensating for her condition. She said: "I became so accustomed to reading body language or lip reading, that this felt normal to me, and now I realise that this isn't actually the norm for everyone else."
She called the hearing aids discreet and noticed an immediate improvement. She said: "Someone in the waiting room coughed when the door was shut and I couldn't believe that I heard the noise on the other side."
Ms Haydn praised staff members Divya and Macy for their support throughout the process. She said they made her feel very reassured and comfortable during her experience.
Macy, who is a customer care co-ordinator at the branch, said Lacey isn't the usual person to experience hearing loss, because of her age.
Ms Haydn has now been referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat department at Arrowe Park Hospital to investigate the cause of her hearing loss.
