Makeup artist and MBE Ruby Hammer initially attributed her hearing difficulties to menopause, a denial that lasted until her daughter's intervention highlighted the severity of the issue.
Hammer described the challenges she faced, including not hearing her name called in noisy photographic studios, leading to the nickname "Ruby wrong sticks" due to misunderstandings in conversations. She also noted that people in shops perceived her lack of response as rudeness. These issues extended to business meetings, where she struggled to follow discussions.
To cope, Hammer employed strategies such as lip-reading, using TV subtitles, and placing her phone on speaker for important calls. The turning point came when her daughter questioned if she had missed her grandson Max speaking. This realization, coupled with her daughter's warning about a potential link between unaddressed hearing loss and dementia, prompted Hammer to seek a solution.
Despite previous attempts, including a £6,000 purchase of hearing aids she never wore, Hammer found a discreet and effective solution with Oticon hearing aids recommended by audiologist Mr. Prince Philip Punnoose. These aids are optimized for her small ears, discreet, and connect to her phone, allowing for volume adjustments. While initially startling due to the clarity of all sounds, they have significantly improved her quality of life, enabling her to hear her grandson clearly.
Hammer's hearing loss was identified as a congenital issue, potentially exacerbated by years of working in loud studios during the 1980s and 1990s, alongside natural age-related deterioration. She expressed a desire to help destigmatize hearing loss by openly discussing her experience, similar to how she has shared about her divorce and menopause.