“It was a slow process where I found myself turning everything up louder to be able to hear at all,” says Michael.
“Higher tones were always difficult, such as when the dishwasher signaled that it was finished. But when I wasn’t hearing the high notes of the birds singing – that’s when I noticed I had a problem.”
“There were situations I avoided,” continues Michael “When there were group conversations, I couldn’t hear what my neighbor next to me said. Sometimes, I even asked my neighbor what another person sitting opposite me had said. It was difficult without hearing aids. I must admit I also partially dropped out of conversations because it was tiring.”
“Everything has changed with hearing aids. It’s excellent. Now I am fully involved in conversations again.”
When cooking with friends or with family, I am now no longer in my own world, just alone in my thoughts because I can’t hear the others. Now I can hear everyone again.
“Since I have the app on my mobile phone, I can connect anywhere. When I am watching football and my wife has a visitor, I can get the commentary through my hearing aids, even when I’m in the other room. Also when I’m driving, I can get the sound through my hearing aids.”
Understands his granddaughter on video calls
“With the hearing aids, it is now easier for me to understand everything, including when using my mobile phone or my iPad to keep in contact with our sons,” Michael explains.
“Both live very far away. One lives in Berlin, and the other lives abroad with his family. Our granddaughter lives there too, and of course we have to keep in touch with her because she should get to know us.”
“She is still small,” says Michael. “Now we understand each other better and it’s just a completely different thing.”
Full music enjoyment restored
“I also love listening to music. I like to listen to the blues, to choirs, or to opera,” says Michael.
“Before, I had the problem that I couldn’t hear the high notes and could not savor the whole sound.”
That’s all changed since Michael began using his Philips HearLink hearing aids. “The timbre is different, the volume is quite different. I have the full sound again with the hearing aid; the sound that was all gone before.”
Stories from people with hearing loss

I just got tired of always asking folks to repeat themselves. I purchased a pair and now I hear so much better!
Kate Johnstone, United States

After purchasing hearing aids, I was able to enjoy conversation with friends and increased going out and interacting.
Female, Japan

I would put the volume very loud on the television, which is no longer the case.
Lyliane Berthe, France