Finding her way back to conversation - thanks to the Hearing Aid Fund
- Briana Valgre
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
At 78, Glenys lives independently in her apartment at Summerset in the Bay, Napier. Surrounded by friends, family, and community groups, she enjoys a busy and social lifestyle. But for a while, something was quietly slipping away — her hearing.
“I was having to ask people to repeat themselves often,” Glenys recalls.
“Sometimes I’d only catch bits of what was said, so I started guessing what people meant. I’d get it right some of the time, but not always.”
As conversations grew harder to follow, Glenys began to feel more isolated from those around her. “The most challenging part was missing out on conversations with my friends and family. You don’t feel like you can participate fully.”
The turning point
The real wake-up call came from her granddaughter when she said she wouldn’t keep repeating herself anymore. That’s when Glenys knew she needed some assistance.
Having seen her siblings struggle to adapt to hearing aids later in life, Glenys decided not to wait. “They didn’t get hearing aids until their 80s and found it very difficult. I wanted to get mine earlier so I could adjust more easily.”
Finding support close to home
Glenys first heard about the Hearing Aid Fund at a Hearing Health Morning Tea in her retirement village. After her hearing test, Glenys was booked for a full hearing assessment. Her audiologist then helped her through the Hearing Aid Fund application process. “They hadn’t heard of the Hearing Aid Fund before but were delighted to support me.” The application process is simple and well-supported, making is easier for people like Glenys to access the hearing aids they need to thrive.
That connection — between the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation, local audiologists, and community events — was the key to helping Glenys access the support she needed.
Rediscovering confidence and connection
Today, Glenys is thriving with her new rechargeable hearing aids.
“The best thing is being able to join in conversations again in social settings with her family and friends,” she says.
She feels more confident when she’s out and about because she can hear what’s going on. With vision impairment as well, the change has had a big impact on her safety and independence. She also loves how her hearing aids connect to her TV and phone – it’s been beneficial for her.
Her message to others
Glenys encourages anyone struggling with hearing loss to act sooner rather than later.
“I knew for a while that I needed hearing aids but kept putting it off.”
Glenys is deeply grateful for the information provided at the Morning Tea presentation, the support of our audiologist partner and for our donors who make the Hearing Aids Fund possible. It’s made a world of different in her life and without this help, she might still be missing out on what’s happening around her.
Interest in the Hearing Aid Fund?
Learn more about how the Hearing Aid Fund is helping Kiwis over 18 years of age reconnect with their families, their confidence, and their world.
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