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Lynn Swainston wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure whether she needed a divorce lawyer or a parrot, but she knew something had to be done about her husband JohnB次元官网网址檚 hearing problems.

B次元官网网址淭o be honest, we were borderline for the divorce courts because we were bickering all the time. Every time I spoke to John, I had to repeat myself and after a while, it gets a bit wearing. You start wondering whether itB次元官网网址檚 because he canB次元官网网址檛 hear you, or because he has selective hearing.B次元官网网址�

She jokes: B次元官网网址淚 once told him, B次元官网网址業 am going to buy a parrot so it can sit on my shoulder and every time you say, B次元官网网址楶ardon?B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榃hat?B次元官网网址�, or B次元官网网址楨h?B次元官网网址� the parrot can repeat what IB次元官网网址檝e said."

B次元官网网址淲e can see the funny side of it now, but at the time, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 funny,B次元官网网址� says Lynn, 67, who is a retired administrator.

After working with heavy machinery all his life, John, 66, a commercial truck driver, had severe hearing damage, but because it had deteriorated over a long period of time, he did not realize how much he was missing. B次元官网网址淚t crept up on me over the years,B次元官网网址� he says.

When Lynn first suggested he might need hearing aids, he was having none of it.

B次元官网网址淲e have two friends with hearing aids which are quite bulky, and John said, B次元官网网址業 am not walking around with those in my ears.'"

Lynn went to her local hearing clinic, , to seek advice for her husband. "They were absolutely brilliant." So she made an appointment and told John what sheB次元官网网址檇 done. B次元官网网址淚 think he went because he wanted to prove to me that I was wrong.B次元官网网址�

However, John admits he was relieved that Lynn pushed him to address his hearing issues. B次元官网网址淚t had to be sorted out if our marriage was going to last.B次元官网网址�

The registered hearing instrument practitioner carried out a free and comprehensive hearing test, and after pinpointing every aspect of JohnB次元官网网址檚 hearing challenges, talked the couple through the different options available.

As soon as she showed John the type of hearing aid he might need, and popped one in his ear, Lynn recalls, B次元官网网址淗is face was an absolute treat.B次元官网网址� John was won over immediately.

B次元官网网址淭he thing I didnB次元官网网址檛 want was one of those great big old fashioned hearing aids sticking out of my ears, but these new hearing aids are so small you donB次元官网网址檛 even know they are there.

B次元官网网址淭here was just so much difference, even before they were tuned in properly. I was really surprised. You donB次元官网网址檛 realize just how bad your hearing is until you try the aids.B次元官网网址�

The hearing clinic is able to offer a wide selection of the latest digital hearing aids, and John was impressed that although there were more advanced and expensive models available, his hearing aid practitioner advised there was no point spending more than he needed.

When John and Lynn returned a week later to pick up his personalized aids, Lynn admits she did have one worry. B次元官网网址淚 was holding my breath thinking, B次元官网网址楬ow long is he going to wear them?B次元官网网址� I thought it would take him a while to get used to them, that it might feel odd having something foreign in his ear.B次元官网网址�

She neednB次元官网网址檛 have worried, as John says: B次元官网网址淭hey are so comfortable you forget sometimes that you have them in.B次元官网网址�

The couple is convinced that addressing JohnB次元官网网址檚 hearing issues has saved their marriage.

B次元官网网址淚t immediately turned things around," Lynn says. "As we were walking around town, there was traffic noise and lots of bangs and clangs, but whenever I spoke to John, he answered me instead of saying, B次元官网网址榃hat did you say, what did you say?B次元官网网址� It was lovely.

B次元官网网址淢aking that appointment at the hearing clinic was the best thing we have ever done.B次元官网网址�