Rediscovering connection – How Chris’s turning point led him to take action
For Chris, a senior sales manager in the IT and cybersecurity sector, hearing loss snuck up quietly—so quietly, in fact, that he didn’t fully recognise its impact until he attended a work Christmas party. “Someone introduced themselves to me and I couldn’t hear her at all,” he recalls. “I wasn’t just missing bits—I couldn’t hear anything.
That moment marked a turning point. “When I look back now, my hearing loss started many years ago,” Chris admits.
“In my role, being able to listen well is so important. I spend a lot of time asking people questions, so it’s imperative I can hear their answers. At home, or with friends, listening creates that sense of connection I’ve been missing.”
Realising the importance of listening in both his professional and personal life, Chris went to the experts.
“I was nervous walking into the hearing centre, thinking I can’t believe I’m here,” Chris admits. "But I walked out with a bounce in my step thinking, wow, that was good. These people really know what they are doing. From the receptionist to the audiologists, they were warm, professional, and reassuring.”
Following his hearing assessment, Chris was fitted with high level technology hearing aids tailored to his specific needs—particularly his high-frequency hearing loss. The change was immediate and profound.
Chris says the biggest impact has been the boost to his confidence. “I can’t expect the whole world to be silent so that I can have a conversation with the person across from me. With my hearing aids I know I’m not going to miss anything now, I’m not going to struggle. I can sit back and confidently engage with the world around me both professionally and personally.”
At work, he can confidently engage in meetings and presentations. At home, his wife appreciates no longer having to repeat herself. Socially, he’s more present and participative, able to follow conversations across a room or at a barbecue.
“To be able to chat to someone and not constantly ask them to repeat themselves, or have people yell because you can’t hear properly – it’s a wonderful experience.”
Now 54, Chris reflects on his past—his time in the military, loud music, and nightclubs—and urges others not to wait. “You don’t think about hearing aids when you’re 21 and standing next to a speaker,” he says. “But hearing loss is real, and it’s worth addressing.”
His advice? “Get your hearing tested. There’s no pressure, just facts and support. And you’re not doing it just for yourself—you’re doing it for your family too.”
