Having been deafened as a result of a car accident at the age of 55, I received reasonable care and supervision at the time by the NHS. However, my NHS Consultant then recommended I use and Oticon hearing aid. On moving to Exeter in 1986, I found Broom Reid & Harris were able to fit me with this particular model, and over the 20 years I have been with them, I have always found them to be honest, sincere, sympathetic to my needs and totally genuine.

I can honestly recommend them.

G.J. Meek

This gentleman has very kindly agreed to explain his observations on his recently upgraded Phonak hearing aids. He plays the clarinet so that was an important factor in the choose of technology. We needed to ensure that the sound reproduction for music was natural and without distortion.

Hearing is one of your most important senses, and as such it's very personal to you. It not only affects you but everyone that comes into contact with you. So it's absolutely crucial you get the best out of it.

Going private for your hearing care provides you with a great many benefits that helps you take your hearing further. It includes choice of technology, choice of style and choice of support.

My family have been attending Broom Reid & Harris for many years for their various hearing problems. Hearing defects can be comlicated and each person will have different needs.

Recently, because of an ear operation, I needed more help with a hearing aid than perhaps is usually required. I can only give praise for the care and detailed attention which I was given. After several visits, with time in between to "try out" the aid, I am now very happy with the result. Also, I know, that if I have problem in the  future I can go back to Broom Reid & Harris and get it put right. Aftercare is most important and can always be relied on at Broom Reid & Harris.

I have nothing but praise, both for the success for the hearing aid, and for the pleasant and dedicated attention from the staff.

J.Eakin, Exmouth.

September 2009

'I have noticed much more difficulty with hearing high frequency pitches and consonants, as the years have gone by, due to an asymmetrical hearing loss; resulting in a particular problem hearing conversations in busy or noisy environments.

The team at Broom Reid & Harris have been very helpful. They identified a new type of hearing aid which is ideal for people in my position. It sits in the ear, but does not go into the ear canal, and it magnifies the sounds I can’t hear to the right level without blocking out those that I can.

I am involved in a lot of local organisations and my new aid means that I can hear conversations without straining – it has made a big difference.

A lot of people put up with bad hearing because they think it is something that just happens, especially as you get older. My advice would be to have a hearing test and, if you need a hearing aid, to be prepared to wear it – it makes all the difference to your quality of life.

Valerie Bacon

I have worn hearing aids in both ears for several years now. They have changed my life because now I can hear effortlessly and it is so good to be able to do so. After only a short time I became quite accustomed to wearing the hearing aids. Broom Reid & Harris have ‘done me proud’ in all ways!

Mr Slatey

As a former BBC radio presenter my hearing has always been important to me, which is why my hearing loss was not obvious to me at first.

I was convinced that my husband was mumbling, my daughter’s diction had disintegrated and that the television needed to be turned up louder because the sound quality on new televisions was obviously not as good as on the old ones.

However, after some persuasion from my family a home visit was arranged with Broom Reid & Harris. Experts there identified some hearing loss, and I was fitted with a hearing aid.

All of a sudden I could hear the birdsong and the falling rain, and I could tell that my husband was not mumbling and that my daughter’s diction was perfect! They have noticed a great difference, and I am no longer accusing my husband of muttering through his beard.

My loss of hearing was so gradual that it was a surprise to have it confirmed.

My new hearing aid has made all the difference, and the staff at Broom Reid & Harris were very pleasant, patient and helpful indeed.

Margaret Mulhern

Many years ago I was devastated to learn that I had a hearing loss. I was only 38 years old and did not want to admit that it was happening to me.

I went to see my GP, which was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was referred to an ENT consultant and I eventually decided to have a private consultation at Broom Reid & Harris.

I was assessed and eventually fitted with a digital hearing aid. Their care, advice and patience were second to none.

I am now having another two hearing aids fitted due to a deterioration in my hearing, and there was only one hearing aid centre to go to and that was Broom Reid & Harris, a company I can trust.

Dorothy Piper

I decided to do something about my hearing around three years ago. I had begun to find it difficult to listen to conversation in crowded places and in business meetings.

On a one to one or on the phone I was fine, but as soon as I was in a crowd, say at a meeting or in the bar after the rugby, I could only pick out every other word. I began cupping my ears with my hands to help me hear better and, in business, I was starting to worry that I was mishearing or misinterpreting what was being said to me.

I was fitted with hearing aids and the results were immediate. When I was fitted for my first hearing aid, the audiologist asked me if I wanted to wear the new aid there and then. I agreed that I would and drove home. When I got out of the car I became aware of a strange noise, and it took me a while to work out that it was the wind rustling in the trees – I had just never heard it before.

I can now hear almost everything that is being said to me in a crowd, which is a great advantage. I know that there are plenty of people out there who should get their hearing checked – ex-service personnel like me, and farmers, who often lose their hearing as a result of the loud noises on their farms. My advice would be, do something about it sooner rather than later.

Mr Tracy Turner