A civil servant whose hearing loss made her feel embarrassed in conversations with friends says AI-powered hearing aids have restored her confidence.
Megan Fawcett, 33, first experienced temporary hearing loss after plane trips, and by 2023 she was increasingly relying on lip reading. She would feel embarrassed asking friends to repeat themselves in busy rooms or with background noise.
Struggling in Social Settings
Megan said: "I went to the pub with friends and quickly realised I couldn't hear the conversation that was happening right in front of me. I was aware I would be asking people to repeat themselves and I would also find it difficult to keep up with the conversation as I would be lip reading."
Her husband encouraged her to book a hearing test after noticing she could not hear her cat Merlot crying to be let into the house. She began wearing an NHS hearing aid in 2023 but found it uncomfortable and was unhappy with its sound quality and appearance.
Switching to AI-Powered Hearing Aids
She then tried a Signia MaX hearing aid, which uses four AI networks to analyse speech, background noise, the listening environment and the wearer's own voice simultaneously. It is designed to adapt as conversations and surroundings change, helping wearers follow group conversations in loud environments.
Megan said: "The sound quality and AI function is amazing - the technology is fantastic. The ability to detect the tone of voices and adapt the sound to my hearing needs is brilliant. Very comfortable too and I often feel like I'm not wearing them at all. I feel like it has given me my life back."
Adjusting Quickly and Gaining Confidence
Megan said she adjusted very quickly to the new hearing aids, despite moving from one hearing aid to two initially feeling unfamiliar. She described them as "extremely simple" to manage and said she finds the charging pod particularly handy as she knows they will last through the day.
Megan, who works in a police staff role for British Transport Police, wants other young people to know that hearing loss can happen at any age and they should feel comfortable seeking support. She said: "Don't be worried what others will think of you because it isn't something to be ashamed of. Don't be afraid of the outcome."
The first device on the Signia MaX platform, Pure C&G MaX, is designed for everyday use with up to 28 hours of battery life. It includes five hours of streaming and uses Signia's OneConnect technology to make streaming music and calls a seamless experience.
For Megan, the discreet design and choice of colours help challenge the image she once had of hearing aids. She said: "My past knowledge of hearing aids was large, and disruptive aids that were very visible. Signia MaX is completely different and feels more wearable in everyday life. I now feel more confident and the experience has left me feeling empowered."
