When we are deprived of these small miracles, our lives are less fulfilling and can often lead to a feeling of being isolated from the world around you.

We all love spending time with our family, going to our favourite restaurant and spending time with friends. However, we often struggle to catch all the words in these noisy environments, especially when there is background music or many people speaking together – like at a family gathering.

Understanding speech in noise is the one problem all people with even a slight hearing loss struggle with. Getting help as soon as possible is critically important. Research shows that the longer you wait the more difficult it is to adapt to sound again with a detrimental effect on your mental health and even physical balance in the long-term. The term ‘use it or lose it’ is just as applicable to one’s hearing.

The Fourways Ear Institute in Johannesburg.

In addition to hearing loss, tinnitus is often a problem many people have. This ‘ringing sound’ in the ears is present when no other noise is happening and can be extremely irritating.

Tinnitus that is “new” to the person can often be improved by taking a good antioxidant like Hearing Health (available from the Ear Institute and selected audiologists) and ‘old’ or prolonged sufferers from tinnitus can often greatly benefit by being fitted with good quality hearing aids.

The slight amplification of background noise often mask tinnitus and can last up to three hours after wearers remove their hearing aids when going to bed.

One company that has been helping thousands of people to hear better since 1975 is the Ear Institute. This family-owned and managed world-class organisation has 22 Ear Institutes throughout SA and Namibia.

The Lynwood Ear Institute in Pretoria.

At the Ear Institute, early detection is very important. The earlier one can get a comprehensive diagnosis of your hearing, the better the overall results will be.

Regardless of the person’s age, the Ear Institute is the best place to go for a hearing test. All Ear Institutes have state-of-the-art technology and offer outstanding service – in fact, they guarantee your hearing will improve or they will gladly refund your money.

Why don’t you phone the Ear Institute today for a hearing test and enjoy life to the full again. Call our hearing helpline at 0861-10-20-30 or visit

www.earinstitute.co.za for more information. DM