WHEN Warwick woman Deb Rutledge got her hands on her first hearing aid, she heard sounds she had not heard before.

She noticed something wasn't right when she would attend work meetings and wouldn't hear her colleagues talking to her from the other side of the room

"That's when I started to investigate," she said.

She was told her hearing was failing and was given a hearing aid, which didn't work well.

"You miss out on so many different things when you can't hear," she said.

"I used to avoid particular social situations where I knew I wouldn't hear properly."

Deb now works at iHear and up until now has only had one hearing aid.

It was shortly after she joined the team of hearing specialists when she discovered her hearing was only getting worse. "If you're looking at me and talking, I can make it out," she said.

"It depends on the tone and the volume of voices, but I couldn't hear people talking behind me."

Each year iHear donates a set of hearing aids to a deserving client.

This year, they have chosen to donate them to Deb.

"It's just wonderful, it makes a difference to my life to be able to hear everything," Deb said.

Audiometrist Sharon Jamieson noted the importance of getting your hearing checked at all ages.

"People seem to associate hearing aids with older people," she said.

"But, they're not, so it's important you get your hearing checked."

The donation comes before the annual Hearing Awareness week, which will kick off next Monday.

iHear will host an open day next Wednesday with free hearing screening for local residents.

For more information contact iHear on 4661 8520.

HEARING

•  50% of those who deal with a hearing loss are below retirement age
•  Only 20% seek out help to improve their hearing loss