Holly Hagan reveals how her relationship with husband Jacob Blyth helped her discover her hearing loss: ‘I hear the birds tweeting again’
Holly Hagan has revealed how her relationship with her husband Jacob Blyth helped her discover her hearing loss.
The Geordie Shore star, 32, revealed earlier this year that she had been fitted with hearing aids after years of ‘struggling’ to listen.
Speaking to Heat magazine this month, Holly revealed that when she and Jacob first started dating, he came to her house and warned her about the oven beeping.
Holly insisted it wasn’t beeping, so Jacob picked up the sound, held it to her ear, turned up the volume and finally she heard it.
“And then it all made sense,” the TV personality said. ‘If I was ever in a taxi I always had trouble hearing the driver talk, and when I was in nightclubs I couldn’t hear what people were saying.’
Holly Hagan revealed to Heat magazine this month how her relationship with her husband Jacob Blyth helped her discover her hearing loss
Speaking to Heat magazine this month, Holly revealed that when she and Jacob first started dating, he came to her house and alerted her to her oven beeping.
“I hear the birds tweeting again,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve heard birds chirping properly since I was eighteen.”
On discovering her hearing loss and undergoing treatment, Holly added: ‘I felt quite emotional but also so happy that hearing aids exist.’
Holly said the hearing aids have improved her relationship as she can now hear the beeping of the fridge or oven if she leaves it open – but she still chooses to take them off when Jacob is eating to avoid the sound of to avoid his gnashing.
In July, Holly detailed her shock health battle with her Instagram fans, saying she was overjoyed to finally hear it.
Holly explained that she lip-read most of the time and in the past often felt ’embarrassed’ when she couldn’t keep up with the conversations.
In a video, Holly took fans through the process of getting her hearing aids fitted and emphasized the importance of breaking the stigma of getting hearing aids at a younger age.
The mother-of-one said: ‘Finally getting my hearing sorted with Boots Hearingcare after struggling for over 7/8 years.
‘I’m judged harshly for certain sounds, which explains why turning up the TV never helped.
The Geordie Shore star, 32, revealed earlier this year that she had been fitted with hearing aids after years of ‘struggling’ to listen
Holly said the hearing aids have improved her relationship as she can now hear the beeping of the fridge or oven if she leaves it open – but she still chooses to take them off when Jacob is eating to avoid the sound of to avoid its creaks.
“I hear the birds tweeting again,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve heard birds chirping properly since I was 18.”
‘I worked so hard to decipher conversations and always felt embarrassed asking people to repeat themselves.
‘I could tune in to my family, but had difficulty with new voices in busy environments, which often made me seem rude or disinterested.’
Holly revealed that Covid made her hearing ’10x worse’ because she wouldn’t be able to lip read, which she relies on, if people wore masks.
She added: ‘Covid made it worse since I realized I was lip reading and masks made it 10x harder. The difference with hearing aids was overwhelming but incredible. I start at 70% to let my brain adjust.
‘There is a stigma around hearing aids, but if you cannot see well and wear glasses, regardless of your age, premature hearing loss can occur for many reasons.
Holly explained how she lip reads most of the time and has often felt ’embarrassed’ in the past when she couldn’t keep up with the conversations
‘They also have great features, like built-in Bluetooth, so I don’t need headphones anymore.
‘I would say to anyone struggling with their hearing to go to Boots Hearingcare and have it checked, it really is worth it, my only regret is not doing this sooner.
‘If you are over 50, you can have a free hearing test done at Boots Hearingcare. If you are under 50 years of age, you will need a referral from your GP for a free hearing test at Boots Hearingcare.’