Holly Hagan praised for honesty as she tackles long-running health issue & is finally getting hearing aids
HOLLY Hagan has been praised for her honesty after revealing a long-running health issue.
The Geordie Shore star explained that she was told back in 2018 that she "needed hearing aids", but has "put it off" repeatedly since then.
But it was during a recent trip back from Thailand that made her realise she needed to "get this sorted".
"When I was on the plane coming home, I was watching a film and they didn't have closed captions - they didn't have subtitles," Holly said in a video on her TikTok page.
"And it's only then that I realise how bad my hearing actually is, and it just made me think like, God, first of all, why is there no subtitles on the plane?
"This is ridiculous.
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"And secondly, I really need to try and get this hearing sorted."
Mother-of-one Holly added that her hearing loss is one of her "main causes of social anxiety".
"Because I know if I get in a taxi and the taxi driver starts talking to me, I'm not gonna be able to hear what they're saying because they're projecting their voice forwards when I'm sat in the back," she explained.
Holly also said that she hadn't realised how much she relied on lip reading before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Everyone was wearing masks and I was like, 'Oh, my God, I can't understand what anybody is saying'," Holly explained.
"And it was really difficult when I was going for my appointments at the hospital when I was pregnant, because I couldn't understand what anyone was saying because their mouths were covered."
She's also battled tinnitus for years, adding: "I can't even remember when it started".
However, when she had her ears tested previously, she was told that the tinnitus was the "highest point on the scale or something".
"So I'm thinking of potentially going to, like, Boots or Superdrug or any of these places that do the hearing tests and to also look at getting hearing aids," Holly concluded.
"I just think that my quality of life and my anxiety may be dramatically improved, and I won't actually know until I try."
The comments section on the TikTok video was quickly filled with people praising Holly for coming forward with the long-running health issue, while also revealing their own similar situations.
"I have recently got them as I was struggling to hear," one person wrote.
"I went and got them tested and was told I needed them.
"At first I felt it was such a big thing but now best thing I’ve done."
Where can you get your hearing tested?
THERE are numerous places you can go to for a hearing test - from high-street stores to private practices. Here's our rundown of some of the most popular ones.
Your GP
Your doctor is a good first point of call if you are worried about your hearing. They can offer advice on where to go, but can also do some more tests to see if anything else is going on that's causing hearing loss.
Specsavers
While they're most well known for their optical services, Specsavers also do hearing tests. They are also completely free for anyone over 18 years of age. You can check out descriptions of some common ear conditions, as well as booking your test, here.
Boots
Another high-street favourite that offers free, 15-minute hearing assessments. Again, they suggest visiting the GP to rule out any other underlying health conditions. But if you've done that and still want to get your hearing checked, visit the Boots website.
Hidden Hearing
Hidden Hearing has hundreds of clinics all over the country, and offers customers a full consultation with a hearing care professional. It also provides the opportunity to try a hearing aid for 60 risk-free days. To find a clinic near you, click here.
"I’m 35 and I recently got a hearing aid because of tinnitus. It changed my life!" another added.
"I work in a shop and I’m exactly the same, I lip read all the time and unless someone looks at me I don’t hear them," a third commented.
"I’m 100% going to go get a hearing test done after seeing this."
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"I’m 33 and got told I needed hearing aids back in October," someone else wrote.
"After having them fitted in December, it’s literally been life changing and they are so small and barely noticeable."
