“Suddenly I could hear the birds and that made me cry because I'd not heard one before. It is the most beautiful sound.” – Jane Harrison, Hearing Dogs For The Deaf
When a hearing specialist opened her doors to the public for a special Open Day – her message was loud and clear. . .
Brazilian entrepreneur Carolina Leal was keen to dispel the myths around hearing aids as part of the event, which marked the second anniversary of The Audiology Expert in Leamington.
The celebration also welcomed three very different guests of honour – the Mayor of Leamington, Councillor Ruggy Singh, alongside Robyn the Labrador and her owner Jane Harrison, of national charity Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, which also benefited from fundraising on the day.
Jane, who has been provided with two dogs by the charity over 17 years, now dedicates her time as a volunteer fundraiser and advocate for them. She is also a recent convert to hearing aids again - after 33 years!
Born with sensorineural hearing loss, she was only formally diagnosed as deaf at the age of eight, when a teacher raised the alarm. She recalls:
“I think I learned to adapt but I missed a lot. I've been told since I was oblivious to everything. But I didn’t get on with analogue hearing aids when I was young because, in the 60s, they were big and unattractive, a sort of one-size-fits-all approach."
“So I dispensed with them when I was 13 and it was only at the age of 50 I started wearing them again because I’d had an accident at work. But they were so much improved and I was over the moon. Suddenly I could hear the birds and that made me cry because I'd not heard one before. It is the most beautiful sound.”
Established in 1982, Hearing Dogs charity sets out to rebuild connection, companionship, and confidence to transform the lives of people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
The dogs are trained to alert deaf people to important, often life-saving, sounds such as smoke and fire alarms, intruder alarms, the alarm clock and even baby monitors.
Hearing Dogs wear burgundy jackets when out in public, which brings a visibility to a largely invisible disability. This can often spark conversation, helping deaf people reconnect with other people and the world around them.
Jane, from Meriden, added:
“The charity has also made a huge difference to my life. I’m much more confident now and Robyn is a big emotional support. She goes everywhere with me. I’d be lost without her.”
Carolina Leal, who moved to the UK when she was 23, was also keen the event acted as a ‘thank you’ to the community she now calls home – as well as a spotlight on the charity. She said:
“I was truly delighted to host the Open Day here at the Audiology Expert. It was a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about hearing health, challenge misconceptions surrounding hearing loss, and help the community better understand the importance of early intervention and support.”
With impressive career credentials spanning over 18 years, Carolina’s thirst for professional knowledge has helped shape the next generation of audiologists through her experience in both teaching and overseeing national studies, some of which have even led to policy change.
As an active member of the British Society of Audiology, she has written national guidance protocols as well as conducting UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) assessments and numerous consultancy roles.
Years of practising and teaching experience eventually led her to Keyla De Magalhaes, who supported Carolina’s ambitions to emulate the success of her The Audiology Expert business model in Suffolk.
Councillor Ruggy Singh said:
“The Open Day has acted as an important reminder that we should take care of our hearing. I think people are put off by the idea of wearing hearing aids, but, after what I’ve seen, I don't think they realise how small and discreet they are these days. Most of them are hardly noticeable. It is also vitally important that we continue to support these charities that help raise funds and awareness.”
The Audiology Expert offers everything from full hearing assessments to ear wax removal and hearing aid fittings.
Carolina said: “There is a lot of stigma around wearing hearing aids. Technology has come a long way in how soon we can diagnose problems before it affects speech and language development. There are a lot of people for whom hearing aids change the quality of their life completely, so I find that hugely rewarding. It's that joy of reintroducing them to things that they didn't even realise they were missing before. It can feel like you’re giving them their life back.”
