South West Hearing Care

03/09/2026

At South West Hearing Care, we believe that providing the best possible experience for our patients means never standing still.

Last week our Audiology team: Cathy, Debbie, Ele and Simon, spent two days together at our Crewkerne clinic taking part in some valuable professional development.

It was a great opportunity to step back, learn something new, share ideas as a team and look at how we can continue to improve the way we support and communicate with our patients.

And, of course, everyone went home with a certificate to prove it! 🎓😊

01/09/2026

𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

We are making a change to our hearing assessment service.

From today, our hearing assessments will be offered as a 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, priced at £55.

The assessment allows up to 90 minutes for our Audiologists to build a detailed picture of your hearing and ear health, understand the difficulties you are experiencing and discuss the findings with you in full.

As well as comprehensive hearing testing and video otoscopy, your appointment may include tympanometry, speech-in-noise testing and other additional assessments where appropriate.

You will also have time to discuss your results, ask questions and explore any recommendations with your Audiologist — without feeling rushed.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲?

We want the service we provide to properly reflect the time, expertise and clinical care involved in a comprehensive hearing assessment.

We appreciate that adding a fee against this appointment is a change for our patients, and it's one we've considered carefully.

Our aim is to provide an assessment that gives you a genuinely useful understanding of your hearing — not simply a set of test results.

If you are considering having your hearing assessed, you can find out exactly what is included in our Comprehensive Hearing Assessment here:

https://www.swhearingcare.co.uk/our-services/comprehensive-hearing-assessment/

24/08/2026

📢 Bank Holiday opening hours

Just a quick reminder that South West Hearing Care will be closed on Monday 31st August for the Bank Holiday.

We’ll be back open as normal from Tuesday 1st September and look forward to seeing you then.

We hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend! ☀️

21/08/2026

New support for those hyperacusis...

Hyperacusis is a reduced tolerance to everyday sounds, where sounds that other people find comfortable can feel uncomfortably or painfully loud. It can have a significant impact on day-to-day life and wellbeing. If this sounds familiar then you may find this new resource helpful.

ishush is a free online resource developed by researchers in Nottingham, offering information, practical self-help tools and support for people living with hyperacusis.

It has been developed alongside people with lived experience and healthcare professionals, with the aim of helping people feel more comfortable doing the things they enjoy.

👉 Find out more and access the free resource: https://ishush.ac.uk/

11/08/2026

🐾 Meet Ruby – South West Hearing Care’s four-legged colleague!

If you’ve visited one of our clinics, there’s a good chance you’ve met Ruby.

Simon’s much-loved Labrador can often be found accompanying him to work, where she has rather happily taken on the unofficial role of Chief Happiness Officer.

She has a knack for making herself at home wherever she goes – whether that’s offering a friendly greeting, keeping Simon company between appointments, or simply finding the best spot for a well-earned nap.

Of course, Ruby doesn’t know much about hearing aids… although she does seem to have an excellent ear for the sound of a treat packet being opened from several rooms away! 😂

We think she’s a pretty important part of what makes our clinics feel welcoming, and she certainly seems to enjoy her days at work.

05/08/2026

🎓 From receptionist to award-winning Audiologist!

We are incredibly proud to share that Eleanor (Ele) Kendall has officially qualified as a Hearing Aid Audiologist after completing her Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology with Anglia Ruskin University.

Eleanor’s journey with South West Hearing Care started in 2023 when she joined us as a receptionist. But after seeing first-hand the impact hearing loss had on her great-grandmother, she knew she wanted to do more to help people hear better and reconnect with those around them.

Through hard work, dedication and a Higher Apprenticeship, Eleanor has now achieved her goal – and was even awarded the Starkey Hearing Prize for achieving the highest overall performance among the 26 students in her cohort. 👏

We are delighted that Eleanor is now our third qualified Audiologist, joining Simon and Cathy, and will be helping more patients across Somerset with their hearing care.

We couldn’t be prouder. Congratulations Ele! ❤️

Read Ele's inspiring journey here: https://www.swhearingcare.co.uk/2026/08/05/eleanor-kendall-audiologist/

28/07/2026

Westbury woman’s life transformed by her incredible hearing dog 🐾❤️

We were delighted to see Westbury resident Janis Thomas featured by the BBC this week, sharing how her hearing dog Valour has helped her regain confidence and independence after losing much of her hearing.

Janis’ story is a wonderful reminder that hearing loss is about so much more than simply missing sounds — it can affect confidence, connection and everyday life.

Our team is incredibly proud to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as our chosen charity and to help raise awareness of the incredible difference these amazing dogs make.

Read Janis’ inspiring story here:

Janis Thomas withdrew from friends and family when severe tinnitus reduced her ability to hear.

28/07/2026

🎬 This is fantastic news for hearing aid wearers!

Vue has announced that it's introducing Auracast™ technology at 18 of its cinemas – a huge step forward in making the cinema experience more accessible.

Auracast allows compatible hearing aids to receive crystal-clear cinema audio streamed directly into both ears, helping reduce background noise and making films much easier to follow. It's one of the most exciting developments we have seen in hearing technology.

👏 We would love to see more cinemas across Somerset and Wiltshire follow Vue's lead. Hopefully this is just the beginning!

17/07/2026

📺 Get even more from your hearing aids

Did you know there are accessories available that can make everyday listening situations even easier?

For many people, watching TV is still one of the trickiest things to hear clearly. That’s where TV streaming accessories can help.

For example, the Widex TV PLAY allows compatible Widex hearing aids to connect directly to your television, giving you a clearer and more personalised listening experience.

From TV solutions and remote microphones to smartphone connectivity, we can help you find accessories that work with your lifestyle.

If there’s a situation where you feel your hearing aids could be helping you more, speak to our Audiology team who are always happy to help you get the most from your hearing aids.

10/07/2026

As demand for our ear wax removal service continues to grow, we are pleased to welcome Amanda as our latest Wax Removal Nurse.

Amanda joins our team in Street and brings with her 27 years of clinical experience from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and a real passion for providing calm, compassionate and patient-centred care.

We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to introducing her to our patients soon. Welcome to the team, Amanda 💙