Midland Hearing Care

18/12/2025

We would like to wish all our patients and their families a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2026.

Please be advised that Midland Hearing Care will close for the Christmas holidays from 12noon on Friday 19th December 2025 and re-open from 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.

Thank you for your continued support!

Midland Hearing Care

12/12/2025

'Hearing loss and Christmas festivities' - tips for our hearing loss patients during the festive season

The festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it a season of socialising with family and friends and whether it be in the home environment with family around, or out and about on the go with friends, the hustle and bustle of Christmas can often be a challenge for those who are hard of hearing.

Here are some tips for hearing loss patients during the holiday season:
Prepare in advance: If you are a hearing aid wearer, booking into your hearing aid provider for a clean-up/service of your hearing device to ensure everything is in top working order or cleaning up the earpieces, ensuring there is no wax obstructing the device (change filter; clear tubing) and ensuring your device is working reliably yourself prior to the busy Christmas season should put you in a good standing to hear well over the holiday.

Have wax removed: If you are prone to wax build up, it is recommended to have the ears cleaned prior to the start of the so called “silly season” – keeping the ears clear may just make the difference to how you hear!

Of course, one of the biggest challenges reported by individuals with hearing loss is hearing in background noise – and whether it be the sounds of a good holiday dinner being cooked up in kitchen, the joyful carol singing in the street, or the laughter of family around the Christmas tree, there is likely to be challenging listening situations arising for most individuals in the coming weeks. Some of the following tips may help you manage better in noisy listening situations.

Face the noise: If there is an option to sit in a position that allows you to face the room, it will afford you visual cues on the “soundscape” in the room and provide a line of sight to people’s faces which can improve speech understanding in noise.

Soft furnishings: More ideally, sitting in a position that faces the room whilst having soft furnishings behind you (such as a fabric high back seat in a restaurant, or with fabric curtains behind you) may help absorb some of the noise in your listening environment, further improving speech understanding in those tricky listening situations.

Face to face: If you are the one to generously host family and friends, consider pre-arranging seating areas that result in as circular seating arrangement – this will make it easier for getting the face-to-face visual cues, and may alleviate some hearing difficulty during group discussions. Remind those you love to get your attention first before they start speaking to you, or to rephrase themselves rather than repeating the same sentence if you are struggling to hear them in noise.
Take your breaks: An often-overlooked aspect of living with a hearing loss is Listening Fatigue – it takes additional mental effort, attention and focus to listen and take part in conversation, particularly in noise, when you are living with a hearing loss. Often, people with a hearing loss report feeling drained, overwhelmed or wiped out after a busy social situation, whether it’s the family visiting or heading out to listen to your favourite band play.

It is recommended to take breaks during the busy holiday season, where you take a brief step out of the hustle and bustle and find some peace and quiet for a brief ‘break’ from the difficult listening situations.

We are here to help
Look after your hearing health, please contact the clinic to schedule a wax removal or hearing assessment appointment.

Please get in touch:
Email us: info@midlandhearingcare.com Landline: 043 336 8029
Clinic hours: By appointment only. Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

02/12/2025

Ear Barotrauma (airplane Ear) happens when your middle ear is affected by sudden changes in air and pressure. Examples of pressure changes may happen if you’re flying in an airplane, using an elevator, diving to the bottom of a pool or scuba diving. Ear barotrauma is a temporary issue that goes away with self-care or when air and water pressure changes stop.

Symptoms and Causes:
Ear symptoms are mild, but they can worsen, including: feeling as if your ear is clogged or blocked, reduced hearing, dizziness or severe ear pain. Very rarely, you may feel fluid oozing from your ear. That may be a sign you have a ruptured eardrum.

What causes ear barotrauma?
Ear barotrauma happens when air or water pressure suddenly changes, putting pressure on your eustachian tubes. Your eustachian tubes run from the back of your middle ear to the back of your throat. The tubes help maintain equal air pressure on both sides of your eardrum by letting outside air into your middle ear. Air pressure changes when airplanes take off and land. That change happens faster than your eustachian tubes can react. Ear barotrauma can happen more frequently if you have congestion from a cold or allergies. Congestion may block or inflame your eustachian tubes, making it even harder for them to manage air pressure changes.

Here are some suggestions that may help prevent ear barotrauma during air travel:
Take a decongestant before your flight.
Remember to swallow and yawn during plane take-off and landing.
If you’re traveling with babies or toddlers, encourage them to drink fluids during take-off and landing.
Chew gum during the flight, especially during take-off and before the plane begins its descent, to help
equalize the pressure.
Blow your nose gently into a
tissue to alleviate pressure.
Blow air through your nose while closing your mouth and pinching your nose (Valsalva manoeuvre).
Wear earplugs to help regulate pressure within your ears.

Or try an Otovent®balloon - a nasal balloon device for auto-inflation of the Eustachian tube to equalize negative middle ear pressure.
Otovent® consists of two parts, a latex balloon and a polypropylene nasal applicator, which are connected before use. It is a non-sterile, reusable device (single-person use only).
How does Otovent® work? Otovent® helps equalizing the pressure in the middle ear when a balloon is inflated from the nose using an auto-inflation technique. Auto-inflation using a nasal balloon increases the nasal pressure, allowing the Eustachian tube to be opened. YouTube Instruction Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Y_bUqmQ1o

Otovent® balloons are available to order from Midland Hearing Care Reception or our e-store. if you are keen to prevent ‘airplane’ ear please contact our clinic on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com.

12/11/2025

Thinking of gift ideas for family and friends this coming Christmas?

Why not avail of a range of wonderful local businesses and services in Longford Town by shopping locally.

Midland Hearing Care vouchers are available to purchase and can be used for Diagnostic Hearing Assessments / or Wax Removal Consultations / or to purchase a set of Custom Earplugs – we offer a range of custom ear plugs : swim plugs/ sleep plugs/ motor sport/ skydiving / industrial noise protection/ gun sport and much more!

*Vouchers are available upon request and range from €50 up to €250.

Please contact the clinic on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com for more information.

07/11/2025

We would like to welcome our new colleague, Lydia Healy to our team at Midland Hearing Care.

Lydia is originally from West Cork and qualified as a clinical Audiologist from the University College of Cork. (UCC) Lydia has well over five years clinical work experience in pediatric and adult patient management in both private and public audiology sectors. She joined our team on Monday 3rd November 2025 and will be working closely with our principal clinical audiologist, Jenevieve and practice manager Claire.

As Jenevieve prepares for her upcoming maternity leave in the new year, Lydia will be assisting Claire with looking after the clinic and patient caseload.

We would like to welcome Lydia and wish her continued success in her new role!

30/10/2025

Clinic News and updates!

We would like to welcome a new addition to our team at Midland Hearing Care.

We have recruited an additional clinical audiologist to assist the clinic and to look after our patient caseload while Jenevieve is on her maternity leave. A modified clinical schedule will be in place from Mid-January 2026 until May 2026.

We are pleased to welcome Lydia Healy to our team on the 3rd November 2025 and wish her every success in her new role!

If looking to schedule an appointment please contact Midland Hearing Care on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com

28/10/2025

Hearing Aid Troubleshooting

At Midland Hearing Care we specialise in hearing aid rehabilitation solutions for adults.

For patients who are new to hearing aid technology or for those who have been wearing hearing aids for a good while.

Typical troubleshooting issues include:

No sound output 'hearing aid dead'

Muffled/reduced sound

High pitch sound/ Whistling/ Feedback

Distortion of sound

Intermittent Sound

Bluetooth Connection Issues with smartphone / tablet or Bluetooth calls

Moisture exposure

Please have a look at Midland Hearing Care's YouTube channel for helpful video tutorials on hearing aid troubleshooting:

https://www.youtube.com/

Alternatively, please contact the clinic and our team will assist you with any technical hearing aid issues.

21/10/2025

Enjoying Halloween with Hearing Aids: Tips for a Spooktacular Experience!

Halloween season is upon us and with it comes creative pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating or watching scary movies. Before you settle on your Halloween costume and plans, take a look at our list of essential tips for hearing aid wearers of all ages to make the most of Halloween while out wearing hearing aids.

1. Halloween Masks and Hearing Aids
Wearing a spooky mask can be a highlight of Halloween, but it can pose challenges for some hearing aid users. Here are some tips for combining masks and hearing aids:
• Choose masks carefully: Opt for lightweight and breathable masks, which will be more comfortable to wear alongside your hearing aids. Masks that you hold up with a stick or string will be more comfortable than over-the-head options.
• Prioritize comfort – don’t lose your hearing aids: Try on your mask in the store to make sure it doesn’t pull on or dislodge your hearing aids.
2. Showcasing Your Hearing Aids
Why not make your hearing aids part of your Halloween look? Accessories like colourful stickers or creative covers can add to your costume while keeping your hearing aids visible and well-functioning. Avoid using strong adhesives or materials that may block up your hearing aid components.
3. Face Paint and Hair Spray
Face paint can transform your face and your Halloween costume and coloured hairspray can add a vibrant splash of colour to your hairstyle. However, it’s essential to be mindful of where you apply these products:
• For face paint: When applying face paint, keep it at least two inches from your hearing aids.
• For hairspray: Always remove your hearing aids before applying hairspray and allow the product to dry before fitting your hearing aid devices into your ears. If you’re spraying your whole head, put protective covers over your hearing aid devices to protect the microphone ports from getting clogged up by hairspray.
4. Halloween Games
While Halloween games add excitement to any gathering, safety is key when it comes to hearing aids. Remember that water and hearing aids don’t mix. If your festivities involve games like bobbing for apples, remove your hearing aids beforehand. If you’re playing games requiring blindfolds, avoid tying them too tightly, as it could put pressure on your hearing aid devices and cause discomfort to your ears.
5. Beware of Halloween Noise: Protect Your Ears!
Halloween festivities often involve loud noises—from booming music at parties to the blaring sound effects in haunted houses. Prolonged exposure to these high decibel levels can cause damage to your hearing, potentially leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Protect your hearing this Halloween with these simple tips:
Wear Ear Protection
If you're heading to a loud party, parade, or haunted house, consider wearing earplugs to protect your ears from excessive noise.

Take Listening Breaks
Give your ears a rest by taking breaks if you're exposed to loud sounds for an extended period.

Follow the 60/60 Rule
When listening to music or sound effects through headphones, keep the volume at 60% for no more than 60 minutes at a time. This rule helps reduce the risk of hearing damage over time.

Halloween is a fun reminder to be aware of the sounds around us, but it's also a great time to think about hearing health year-round.

For more information on enjoying Halloween while safely caring for your hearing aid

For more information on hearing and hearing aid care please contact Midland Hearing Care on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com

17/10/2025

Latest Clinic news!

Midland Hearing Care's newsletter is now available and will be sent to our patients by post or email in the coming days.

We have much exciting news to share!

Upcoming maternity leave - Clinical Audiologist is expecting.
A modified clinical schedule will be in place from Mid-January 2026 until May 2026

During this time Clinical services will be modified with Claire our practice manager taking care of all administrative duties, hearing aid consumable sales as well as hearing aid mini repairs and service repairs.

Audiology Recruitment Campaign
We have recruited another clinical audiologist to assist the clinic and to look after our patient caseload while Jenevieve is on her maternity leave.
We are pleased to welcome Lydia Healy to our team on the 3rd November 2025 and wish her every success in her new role!

Pediatric caseload deferred to Dublin
All new and existing pediatric referrals have been referred to our trusted colleagues in Dublin.
Diagnostic Hearing Services (Artane Branch / Beacon Branch / Skerries Branch)
Kelly Hearing (Leeson Street, Dublin 4)

We thank you for your continued support during this very exciting, yet challenging time.

If looking to schedule an appointment at the clinic please contact us on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com

15/10/2025

Sound is part of your lifestyle

Everyday moments — crisp leaves, the chilly rustle of wind , conversations over a campfire — come alive when you hear well.

Prioritize your hearing health to enjoy life’s full soundtrack this autumn.

Infuse every hearing moment with exceptional sound quality and comfort from the first use with Audéo Infinio hearing aids.

Featuring technology that transcends the limits of hearing care like never before, Phonak Infinio helps you hear the world with ease and confidence to embrace life’s meaningful moments.
• Brand new mico-processing chip brings a new level of digital signal processing for exceptional sound quality.
• Better speech understanding and reduced listening effort, resulting in feeling less tired at the end of the day.
• Market-leading universal connectivity of hearing aids and My Phonak app with Bluetooth for smartphones and tablets.

The current situation most hearing aid wearers face
Difficulty communicating in background noise and hearing over distance is one of the most common complaints of individuals with hearing loss. There are a number of factors that affect speech, including background noise level, distance from the speaker, acoustics of the environment and reverberation of music and other competing sounds.

Research indicates that despite significant improvements in digital hearing aid technology, most hearing aid technologies can only deliver approximately 2 metres of sound amplification to the wearer, in most communication situations. In background noise, hearing aids provide less than 1 metre amplification to the hearing aid wearer. Is it any wonder then why so many hearing aid wearers struggle to hear speech in background noise?

What can be done?
When hearing aid technology is simply not enough, an assistive listening device like ‘’Roger’’ FM technology is required to maximise the hearing aids full potential. Roger FM technology helps to extend the audibility of speech well over 3 metres in all communication situations.

Phonak Roger On™ 3 FM Soundfield technology system delivers exceptional speech clarity in all challenging listening environments. Whether you’re in a crowded restaurant, participating in a business meeting, or enjoying a social gathering with family or friends, this assistive listening technology focuses on conversations that matter over distance and in background noise.

If looking to upgrade your current hearing aid technology or to have your hearing assessed, please contact Midland Hearing Care on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com to schedule an appointment.

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08/10/2025

We are pleased to share our Midland Hearing Care patient testimonial video.

Please see below link to view our clinic's subtitled video and see what some of our patients are saying about Midland Hearing Care's team and services.

https://youtu.be/kvBd3VGU3tI

Hearing Aid Troubleshooting videos are available to view on our Midland Hearing Care YouTube channel. Please see: Midland Hearing Care – YouTube

www.youtube.com/

Here is what some of our patients are saying about our services:

16 September 2025
‘Very friendly staff. Really took time to talk & explain to my elderly father every step of the assessment process. Completed a thorough examination. Very positive experience.’ - Linda Frain on behalf of her father - Hearing Assessment

8 September 2025
‘‘I recently visited Jenevieve in Midland Hearing Care and was deeply impressed with the level of care and professionalism I received. She was knowledgeable, attentive, and made the entire experience comfortable and reassuring. I left feeling confident in the advice and service provided. Highly recommended.’’ - Mary O’Toole - ENT Consultant Referral - Hearing Assessment

16 August 2025
'Very professional service and would highly recommend'.’ - John Fitzpatrick Hearing Assessment & ENT referral

15 August 2025
‘Excellent customer service. All staff were friendly and welcoming. Really thorough testing and explanations. Jenevieve has a very child centred approach and put my son at ease. Highly recommend Midland Hearing Care.’ Tia Manning - Child hearing assessment

14 August 2025
‘Midland Hearing Care is a clinic of exceptional care with a wonderful atmosphere of welcome and friendliness. I can certainly say that from the very first moment, I was assured of and received all the attention I needed for my hearing problem. Over the past four years, I have experienced first-hand, the gentle approach with strong support and encouragement . Within a short space of time, my hearing problem was dealt with. The ongoing examinations and detailed explanations were most helpful and reassuring. I felt normal again because I could hear again! The team has a relaxed professional approach - no rush, no anxiety with plenty of personal time provided. No phone call was left unanswered, no problem overlooked. I feel so blessed and enabled. Thank you Midland Hearing Care.’ - Sr Mairead O’Keefe - hearing assessment and hearing aid rehabilitation

In this short subtitled video, some of our patients share their feedback on Midland Hearing Care's team and services.

23/09/2025

Supporting brain health during World Alzheimer’s Month

World Alzheimer’s Month is a time to increase awareness and reduce stigma around dementia. This September, during World Alzheimer’s Month, the global campaign theme Ask about Alzheimer’s invites us to start more conversations, reduce stigma, and empower families. Hearing care is an important part of that effort. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

Despite growing knowledge, misconceptions persist. Two-thirds of health professionals still believe dementia is simply a normal part of aging. Almost 80% of the general public are concerned about developing dementia and 1 in 4 people think that there is nothing we can do to prevent dementia.

Families may even hide a diagnosis out of shame or fear of judgment. This silence means that many people living with dementia may never disclose it.
Yet dementia is not inevitable. Research tells us that up to 45% of cases could potentially be delayed or prevented if we addressed modifiable risk factors, including managing hearing loss.

Pay attention to:
• Caregivers/family answering in place of the client/loved one.
• struggling with instructions beyond hearing issues.
• confusion, withdrawal, frustration, or changes in mood/personality.

Why hearing care supports brain health
From a psychological perspective, one of the most important protectors of brain function is social engagement. It stimulates memory, emotion, and reasoning while reducing loneliness, one of the greatest threats to healthy aging.

Untreated hearing loss can reduce this engagement. People withdraw from conversations they cannot follow. They stop attending community events and group activities. In turn, their risk of cognitive decline increases.

Hearing care professionals are often among the first to notice subtle changes, the first to raise awareness, and the first to help maintain social connections that keep minds active.
Look after your hearing health, have a hearing test and find out if you require hearing aid technology. The ears and the brain as equal partners: while the ears pick up the acoustic signals, the brain gives meaning to the puzzle pieces.

Communication modification
Support families with small, practical adjustments:
• Face the person and reduce background noise.
• Use short, clear sentences.
• Confirm understanding, not just repetition.
• Encourage participation in group activities, even if conversations are more difficult.

Support caregivers
More than half of dementia caregivers report that their own health has suffered. Many may feel isolated. Listening to their concerns and pointing them toward support resources can make a difference.

Staying hopeful
Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. This statistic is sobering, but it is not the complete picture. Evidence shows that brain health can be supported, and cognitive decline can be slowed in people at increased risk through hearing intervention as well as lifestyle interventions.

References:
1. Alzheimer’s Disease International. (2025). World Alzheimer’s Month. Retrieved from https://www.alzint.org/get-involved/world-alzheimers-month/