HIDDEN HEARING, a trusted name in auditory care, has launched a new chapter for hearing health in the region, following the clinic's relocation to a new state-of-the-art store in the former KBC Bank building in Eyre Square, just 200 metres from its previous address in the Square.
Hidden Hearing is a brand passionate about making hearing care accessible to all, with this core ethos present in its people and its practice. The leading hearing healthcare provider in Galway since opening its local branch in the 1990s, Hidden Hearing's expansion into its new, accessible, modern facility boasts various benefits for both the brand and its patients.
A milestone for Galway
The opening of Hidden Hearing’s Galway store represents an exciting milestone for the city. Located in a convenient, central area, the clinic offers easy access to modern facilities, creating an inviting space where people can prioritise their hearing health.
Hidden Hearing’s new Galway store exemplifies the company’s dedication to accessibility. With hearing loss affecting approximately 15 per cent of Ireland’s population, the need for easily accessible hearing care has never been greater. The clinic is equipped to serve a broad spectrum of clients, from those experiencing mild hearing loss to those needing more advanced solutions.
Appointments can be booked online, over the phone, or in person, and the clinic maintains flexible hours to accommodate even the busiest schedules. Additionally, Hidden Hearing is known for its transparent pricing, ensuring clients understand their options and receive the best possible value.
Audiologists Tim Eacrett (left ) and Robin Smyth (right ) with clinic coordinator, Tricia Hynes at the new Hidden Hearing clinic in Eyre Square, Galway. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy.
Passionate about hearing care
Beyond its technological prowess, what sets Hidden Hearing apart is its compassionate approach. The Galway team is deeply committed to improving lives through better hearing. This ethos is reflected in testimonials from satisfied customers who credit Hidden Hearing for transforming their lives. Many describe the joy of rediscovering everyday sounds, from birdsong to conversations with loved ones.
For the staff of Hidden Hearing Galway, helping patients regain, retain, and improve their hearing ability is not only a professional goal but a personal vocation. Inspired by their own first-hand experience of how hearing loss can affect people and their families, the Galway clinic's two audiologists - Tim Eacrett and Robin Smyth, are a testament to the brand and its ethos.
"Audiology is more than just science and technology," said Robin, "It is about the human element, the empathy, the compassion, and the genuine desire to help others, and there is something deeply rewarding about helping someone regain their hearing. It is more than just a job, it is a privilege."
"Every day, we have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone's life," explained Tim, adding, "It is a privilege to witness the transformative power of hearing. The joy of restoring someone's hearing is unparalleled and is extremely satisfying."
Giving people their life back
There is a sincerity and passion that shines through in both Robin and Tim as they speak about their work and the life-changing outcomes they provide. Unlike its competitors, Hidden Hearing Galway sees patients, not customers. Through its range of affordable and accessible hearing equipment, free hearing consultations, and its team of supportive staff, the service on offer is patient-led, driven by a real desire to help, not to gain.
"I saw how hearing loss affected my dad," said Tim, recalling the motivation behind his decision to become an audiologist five years ago. "He wore hearing aids, but his hearing, in general, was not being managed, and his unchecked hearing loss accelerated his dementia.
"I went into hearing care after my dad passed. Unfortunately, I did not know then what I do now, and use that to help my dad - but I can help my patients and their families."
Like Tim, Robin's experience of how his father's unchecked hearing loss affected his family was his primary motivation for becoming an audiologist.
"Hearing loss not only affects the person experiencing it, but also their families," said Robin. "Hearing loss generally happens gradually, so gradually that the person experiencing it may not even notice until someone says to them 'Why is that radio up so loud', or a family member gets upset because they are not being listened to, or having to repeat themselves.
"By helping a patient to manage their hearing care and improving their ability to hear, we are giving people their lives back. I had a patient earlier tell me that she heard her granddaughter's voice clearly for the first time, so it is incredibly rewarding work."
Joining Tim and Robin in their work is clinic coordinator, Trisha Hynes, who carries out the trojan work of keeping the clinic running smoothly, helping to book appointments, and acting as the point of contact.
Tim Eacrett, Hidden Hearing audiologist. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy.
Spreading awareness
The Galway store also plays a key role in raising awareness about hearing health across the West of Ireland. Many people live with undiagnosed hearing loss, often attributing it to ageing or background noise. Hidden Hearing’s free tests aim to remove the stigma and encourage proactive care.
Through community outreach, educational events, and local partnerships, Hidden Hearing Galway seeks to inform residents about the importance of early detection. Left untreated, hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, social withdrawal, and even depression. By addressing the issue early, individuals can preserve their hearing and maintain their connection to the world around them.
"Hearing loss is an individual need, it is like our fingerprints," explained Robin. "Every patient is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing hearing loss."
Untreated hearing loss can affect a person's overall health, exacerbating underlying or existing conditions such as; dementia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Studies even suggest that there may be a relationship between 'sudden sensorineural hearing loss' and strokes. As a result, there are ongoing clinical investigations into whether or not some cases of sudden hearing loss can foreshadow a cerebrovascular event, or a stroke, up to two years after it occurs.
There are, of course, genetic links to hearing loss, which if left unchecked can dramatically affect a person's quality of life, no matter their age.
''I didn't realise I was experiencing hearing loss.''
Personifying this last example is Margaret Monaghan, whose hearing loss began in her early twenties.
"I think, looking back now and realising that there was a problem with my hearing, I would say it began when I was in my early 20s. I would play music in my car so loudly because I genuinely couldn't hear it at a normal level, and I did not realise it was loud until someone got into the car with me. I got used to hearing my friends say things like 'Why is this up so loud?' and I would always be surprised that it was loud to them, even though it was the loudest it could be."
Margaret's story is one of disconnection, even when she tried her best to be present. In a world full of colour, Margaret's gradually worsening hearing loss saw shades of grey replace vibrant hues. Since evolution, human communication has centred around the senses, when one of your senses begins to fade, it creates a strange juxtaposition for the person who is experiencing it and those around them.
"I always thought that I was the problem, I was always told that I was the problem. That I was unfocused, or just not listening to what people were saying. To find out that there was a problem that I didn't realise existed was emotional for me - but it also meant that I was not actually lazy, or just not interested in others. I was trying my best but I just could not hear."
For the next two decades, Margaret navigated life with the physical equivalent of having one arm tied behind her back. She became a mother to two children, who are now 13 and 16 and worked independently and successfully in a variety of industries, all the while dealing with ever-worsening hearing loss.
It all came to a crux when Margaret started a new job working for a successful agricultural software company, Mart Eye. With a large portion of her work requiring Margaret to call farmers across Ireland and the UK, she finally realised that there was something wrong with her hearing.
"I could not hear certain tones at all, and these deeper tones are typically male tones so I would find myself not able to hear my customers or my colleagues. I would go into a soundproof room to call my customers and put them on speaker, and even then I would struggle to hear. I could not hear my colleague, Ciaran even though he was just across the desk from me.
"It was then I decided to finally do something about it."
Following consultations with two different Ear Nose and Throat (ENT ) doctors, Margaret was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. Both doctors recommended that Margaret go to Hidden Hearing to discuss managing her hearing care, and taking this recommendation on board, she attended the Galway clinic.
This decision would prove to be life-changing for Margaret.
Tim Eacrett, Hidden Hearing audiologist with Margaret Monaghan, Gift of Hearing recipient at Hidden Hearing, Eyre Square Galway. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy.
'My world was dull and now it is full of colour'
Armed with a diagnosis and a proactive plan to manage her hearing loss, Margaret recalls her first meeting with Tim and the gut-wrenching realisation that the type of hearing aid she needed was just out of reach.
"I got to try on a pair of hearing aids for a few minutes and straight away I felt like my world had changed. Until then, I did not realise how dull my world was. The only way I can describe it is like I was down a well and I was suddenly rescued and could see a completely new world. Even hearing my voice was so weird, I did not recognise it. I still cannot recognise it."
This brief taste of what life could be came crashing down following Margaret's discovery that, due to her years working for her own business, she was not eligible for the PRSI grant for hearing aids, dramatically increasing the price of the equipment and placing them firmly out of reach.
"I was so angry after the consultation. Angry that I had gotten to experience what life was like being able to hear what everyone else could, and now I had to go back to this dull life, struggling to hear and feeling disconnected from everyone, from my work and my children. I was just so angry.
"I swim in Salthill every morning, so all I would think about during my drive from Craughwell to Salthill at 6:30am would be about how I could get these hearing aids. I would ask for a sign, for help, or any guidance. I was just so lost."
Unbeknownst to Margaret, Tim, who had been deeply moved by her reaction to her hearing aids, had been advocating for her within the company, nominating her as a candidate for the 'Gift of Hearing'.
The Gift of Hearing
A few days after Margaret was still very upset, understandably so. Metaphorically describing her life as being in shades of grey, she had been given a glimpse of a colourful future, a tantalising taste of what could be.
As a result, when Tim rang her one afternoon while she was on Shop St, heading home after a day of work, Margaret answered the call tentatively, preparing to apologise for her reaction and upset and confirm that it was unlikely that she would be able to afford her dream hearing aids.
"I said to Tim that I was sorry, I was just really upset, and he replied he knew and went on to explain the Gift of Hearing and how he had advocated for me to the company. He told me that my story touched him and that Hidden Hearing would like to give me the Gift of Hearing.
"I started crying, and I remember just walking down Shop St with tears streaming down my face."
Life-changing
Through its Gift of Hearing project, Hidden Hearing has helped countless people like Margaret. Hidden Hearing has awarded close to €60,000 worth of hearing aids to those who need it most. Family members, loved ones and in Margaret's case, even Hidden Hearing staff can nominate a candidate for the Gift of Hearing through an online form on the company's website.
"I couldn't believe it. It didn't sink in at first. The day after Tim called me, I rang him, and when I didn't get through the first time I tried again, and again. The first thing I asked him when I got through to him was 'Did yesterday really happen? Am I really going to get these hearing aids?' and he laughed and said 'We definitely picked the right person'.
"So now when I am swimming in the morning, instead of thinking about how I am going to get the money together to get my hearing aids, I am thinking of how can I give back. How can I help someone else in need?"
In many ways, by telling her story, Margaret is giving back. Hearing loss, as Robin previously explained, is often a gradual process with changes so slight they are frequently overlooked. In addition to this, hearing loss is often perceived as being associated with age. Those experiencing hearing loss often will not recognise that they are, and if they do, they may dismiss the signs due to them being too young for example.
Margaret's hearing loss is likely genetic, beginning when she was in her late teens / early 20s, and over the next twenty years it declined to the point where she felt isolated and disconnected from the world around her. Those reading this article may identify with her story, maybe noticing their struggle to hear certain tones, relying on subtitles and the rewind button to understand the television. As a result of reading Margaret's story, they may then be inclined to go to Hidden Hearing for their free hearing consultation and begin the process of managing their hearing care. It is never too late, or too early, to invest in your hearing.
"It is so strange to hear my voice now," said Margaret following the fitting of her hearing aids at the Hidden Hearing Galway clinic last week. Her fascination with what many would deem to be everyday sounds was evident. "It is like I went from always hearing sounds like I was underwater, to coming up for air and hearing crisp and clear sounds."
Making a difference
With 85 clinics nationwide, and employing more than 300 people, Hidden Hearing has been present in the Irish market since it opened its flagship store in Cork in 1987. Since then, Hidden Hearing has been working hard to develop its reputation as a provider of world-class hearing healthcare services and enduring, life-long support to patients all over Ireland.
Hidden Hearing's entry into the Irish market may have occurred nearly 40 years ago, but the company's origin goes back far beyond even then, beginning of the 20th century, stemming from the simple story of a man, Hans Demant, who wanted to help his wife, Camilla to manage her hearing loss.
More than a century later, the brand's ethos is still firmly rooted in understanding the profound impact hearing has on quality of life. For many, untreated hearing loss leads to isolation, communication challenges, and a diminished sense of connection. Hidden Hearing addresses these issues with cutting-edge technology, professional expertise, and a patient-centred approach.
Ireland’s ageing population has made hearing health more relevant than ever, but the requirement for hearing care is not just for one set demographic. People of all ages, of all backgrounds, and all incomes require reliable hearing care. Hidden Hearing has positioned itself as a vital resource, offering free hearing tests and accessible solutions tailored to individual needs. Its partnership with leading hearing aid manufacturers ensures clients receive the latest advancements in auditory technology, from invisible hearing aids to devices with Bluetooth connectivity.
The Hidden Hearing Galway's team: Trisha Hynes, Tim Eacrett, and Robin Smyth with Gift of Hearing recipient, Margaret Monaghan. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy.
The road ahead
As Hidden Hearing Galway settles into its new home, the team remains focused on its mission: to provide exceptional hearing care while fostering awareness and education. The clinic is poised to become a cornerstone of the community, helping people of all ages reconnect with the sounds they love.
For anyone in Galway or the surrounding areas, Hidden Hearing’s new store is more than just a clinic—it’s an invitation to embrace better hearing and a fuller life.
Visit Hidden Hearing Galway today to book your free hearing test and explore a range of advanced hearing solutions. To learn more, visit www.hiddenhearing.ie or call the Galway store directly. Your journey to better hearing starts here.
