PEOPLE whose hearing has been damaged by working in Merseyside’s heavy industries are a primary focus for a new hearing care service established at an opticians practice in Southport.

Independent practice Batty and Dexter Opticians has joined forces with a team of audiologists to widen its offer of healthcare checks, with hearing experts Amplify Hearing saying a key issue in the region is the number of people with work-related hearing problems.

As Merseyside has historically been home to heavy industry such as ship building, many workers were regularly exposed to noise which exceeded safe levels until legislation changed in the 1970s.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains a problem, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) saying exposure to noise at work can cause irreversible hearing damage.

According to the HSE, it is 1 of the most common health problems, with industrial hearing loss accounting for about 75% of all occupational disease claims.

Batty and Dexter Opticians partnered with Amplify Hearing at its Lord Street practice in Southport, along with its Aintree and Hunts Cross branches, to launch a hearing care service 6 months ago.

With an expert audiologist on hand to conduct free hearing tests, the team is hoping to help more people who are living with occupational deafness.

Audiologist Matthew Kearon-Warrilow said:- “Many of the people we are seeing in the Aintree and Hunts Cross practices are those who worked in the type of heavy industries that were so common in the North West and as a result, now suffer from hearing problems. As an example, shipyard riveters were exposed to the type of sudden, incredibly loud sounds which are so damaging to hearing. It’s the equivalent to what farmers are exposed to when they use shotguns. From around the age of 50, your hearing naturally declines but if you have also spent years working in heavy industry, that decline comes quicker and sharper. Your hearing drops off more dramatically and at a younger age. We have seen people who worked in heavy industry before the legislation came into force, and they’re severely deaf. The change in law helped to reduce the level of noise people are exposed to but noise is still an issue in some workplaces and even moderate hearing loss can make life very difficult.”

Along with supporting those who have already experienced hearing loss, the team at Batty and Dexter also help people who work in loud environments to prevent hearing loss. Ear protection aids include custom-made ear plugs, which still allow some sound through.

Mr Kearon-Warrilow said offering hearing care alongside eye care demonstrates how seriously it should be taken.

He said:- “In the same way that you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, you should take preventative steps to protect your hearing. For instance, regular gig-goers should use some form of ear protection. Hearing only seems to become important to people once they have lost it – until then, it often takes a backseat to sight. What is key is that industry-related hearing loss is preventable with the right hearing protection.”

As hearing loss can happen gradually and is often undiagnosed, the team at Batty and Dexter say people should be aware of the signs, which include misunderstanding what other people say, especially in noisy places; having to ask people to repeat themselves; listening to music or watching television with the volume higher than other people need; or feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening.

Batty and Dexter’s clinical partner Faheem Sarfraz said an hour-long hearing check includes a thorough examination of the patient’s ears and ear canals and an advanced hearing test using the latest equipment.

He said:- “We recommend a hearing test once every 2 years or more frequently if you’re experiencing problems. Taking regular care of your hearing health can also prevent cognitive decline, social isolation and general confidence. Our team is on hand to demonstrate the modern, small hearing devices that are now available, which also feature Bluetooth connectivity for calls, music and television. At Batty and Dexter, we’re proud to now provide an increasingly wide offer of key health checks, including eye and hearing exams along with another new service at our Southport practice – blood pressure checks.”

For more details about Batty and Dexter Opticians visit this website.