John Daly Opticians offering free audiology service

John Daly Opticians, established in 1973 and located on Oliver Plunkett Street in the heart of Cork City, is an independent practice offering expert eye care, a wide range of quality eyewear and now professional audiology services.

With advanced diagnostic technology they provide comprehensive eye exams, hearing health checks and earwax removal.

All delivered with a focus on clinical excellence and personalised care.

The free hearing checks are convenient for anyone wanting a one-stop shop for checking both eyes and ears. 

As the resident audiologist, Jillian Moynihan points out that if people have an issue with their eyesight, they will be proactive about getting it checked out. 

People are not so quick to address a hearing problem or to just get their hearing checked as a matter of routine.

While regular clients of this business are delighted with the new service, anyone can avail of it. You don’t have to have an eye check booked to avail of free hearing checks at John Daly Opticians.

“We do a fifteen-minute hearing check,” says Ms Moynihan, who has a Masters in audiology from UCC. 

“If there’s an issue, we’ll book you in for a 75-minute hearing examination, which is free. We’ll be more questioning about the person’s lifestyle and what their needs are. Everyone’s needs are different. Finding out these needs helps us to better advise what hearing aid might be the best option. Also, we offer a demonstration with the hearing aids. That way, the person will have an idea of what the sound will be like before they purchase the hearing aids.” 

It’s estimated that 20% of the global population has some hearing loss. Good hearing is essential to staying connected, confident and independent. 

Untreated hearing loss can affect well-being, communication and even cognitive health. It has been said that poor hearing can lead to dementia.

“There is no causal relationship between hearing loss and dementia, but there is a correlation between the two. There is a lot of research going into it, which indicates that untreated hearing loss can be linked to cognitive decline.” 

In her experience, Ms Moynihan has noted that people are getting hearing aids younger than before. 

“We are all exposed to so much more noise than we would have been years ago. There are discos, nightclubs, and concerts. Everything is so much louder now.” Also, people are more health-conscious since Covid, says Ms Moynihan. 

“I think people are noticing issues quicker and are addressing them sooner than before.” Hearing problems can affect people’s lives in a hugely significant way. 

“It’s so sad when people coming into us say they’ve stopped going to whatever pastime they used to attend, such as bridge because they can’t hear properly. If there’s a solution to help improve your quality of life, why not try it? You have nothing to lose and you’re going to improve your quality of life.” 

At John Daly Opticians, it’s all about access. Hearing care shouldn’t be restrictive or in any way intimidating. 

“We make it easy, approachable and supportive.” The practice, which includes a room dedicated to hearing care, is committed to patient care and not sales targets. The aim is to help people hear, feel and live better.

The audiology service, which is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays also includes free tinnitus assessments, safe earwax removal, access to the best hearing aid technology available and ongoing aftercare and support.

Wax removal at John Daly Opticians is carried out with state-of-the-art equipment called Tympa. 

Tinnitus, a ringing in the ears, “is more common than you would think. Thankfully, a lot of the time it’s not too intrusive and doesn’t affect people hugely on a daily basis. People with tinnitus might benefit from a hearing aid. We also offer an online consultation with a tinnitus expert in the UK who can carry out a more in-depth assessment.” 

Hearing aids these days are very small and discreet. This helps to get rid of the stigma that used to be associated with them. 

“People used to be reluctant to go ahead with hearing aids as they don’t want to look as if they’re old. There is still a way to go but thankfully, hearing aids are now much better.” 

And they can accommodate every aural aspect of your life. 

“The amount of things hearing aids can do, for such a small device, is amazing. You can connect the hearing aids to your phone and use them as a streaming device. Hearing aids are now mostly phone-compatible and can be connected to Bluetooth. 

"You can have phone calls streaming through the hearing aids, which is useful because people with hearing loss struggle on the phone. There’s an app to control volume. We do all the connecting for the patient. The technology is incredible. We have come a long way from having analogue hearing aids to what is on offer today.” 

Ms Moynihan recommends that from the age of fifty, people should get their ears checked at least every two years. 

“It’s good for monitoring. Then, as you get older, an annual test would be advisable. We want to be able to help whoever we can. We don’t want any barriers to people coming in. As I always say, if you can help yourself, then why wouldn’t you?” It’s a no-brainer.

• To book your eye test, hearing check or earwax removal appointment, visit johndalyopticians.com or call (021) 4277911.