00:00 Tell me a wee bit about you.
00:02 My name is Samuel Lewis. I've been working in the family business since I was about 16,
00:08 which is 44-45 years. My father started way back in the early 70s, my late father backstarted
00:16 in here, he made his way back in 1956. I came straight into the family business from school
00:21 and I've been here ever since. I always say I've got the smallest CV in Belfast, because
00:27 I've been here. Supplying hearing aids and helping people who are hard of hearing for
00:33 all my life really.
00:35 Is there a stigma do you find of people with hearing loss?
00:39 Not as much now as there used to be. More people are wearing different types of hearing
00:44 devices, so hearing aids I think are getting more acceptable. The majority of people who
00:49 need hearing aids are in the older age bracket. There are a few in the younger age bracket.
00:54 But certainly you're getting enquiries from all age groups now.
00:58 Just how many different types of hearing aids are available?
01:02 It can be up to 80 different types of hearing aids, but a lot depends on the type of deafness
01:08 and the degree of loss, which determines the level of technology. Whether it's in your
01:13 ear or behind your ear, and different sizes. I always tell people the most expensive isn't
01:19 the best. It depends on your individual hearing loss.
01:23 How do you go about determining what suits which individual?
01:28 The first thing is, everybody has to get a free hearing test. From that I would know
01:32 the type of deafness and the degree of loss, and what hearing aid and level of technology
01:37 would suit them. According to their dexterity, their capabilities, we've got to take all
01:42 that into account, and their age etc. In other words, we wouldn't prescribe the smallest
01:49 hearing aid that they would like, but the smallest hearing aid that would suit their
01:54 problem at the end of the day.
01:56 How long is the process between a first consultation and actually getting fitted?
02:02 From consultation to getting fitted would be about 2 weeks, roughly 2-3 weeks.
02:08 So it's quite quick.
02:09 It's quite quick, yes. Go ahead.
02:13 Are you online?
02:16 Yes, we have a website. You can't book online, you have to ring us personally and book us.
02:22 I do hearing tests either on my premises in Orby Drive, or I'll go out to the house and
02:28 test the person's hearing, which is free, and I would cover all of Northern Ireland,
02:32 and there's no obligation.
02:33 What's your contact number then?
02:35 02890796555
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