This past Saturday the 13th of June, we had a fantastic time exhibiting at the 2026 Sioe Aberystwyth & Ceredigion County Show. With the sun shining and visitors from across the country flocking to the showground, our stand was busy from start to finish, giving us the opportunity to discuss one of the most important – and often overlooked – aspects of our health: our hearing.
Hearing Loss Isn’t Just About Getting Older
With many in attendance who were used to working on farms and with loud machinery, one of the biggest talking points of the day was just how quickly hearing can be damaged by everyday noise, and the importance of hearing protection. Many people don’t realise that noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, yet it is one of the most preventable forms of hearing loss.
Throughout the day, we spoke to farmers, agricultural contractors, retired people and members of the public about the levels of noise they are exposed to in everyday life.
Using information on sound levels and safe exposure times, we helped visitors put those noises into perspective. Many people were surprised to learn that as sound levels increase, the amount of time that it’s considered safe to be exposed to that noise reduces dramatically.
Whether it’s operating agricultural machinery, using power tools, attending concerts or taking part in shooting sports, protecting your hearing should be considered just as important as protecting your eyes or your hands.
Bringing Ear Health to Life
Our video otoscopy proved to be one of the most popular attractions on the stand. Visitors were fascinated to see inside their own ears on screen – many for the first time – and it created a great opportunity to discuss ear health and answer questions.
Alongside video otoscopy, we also offered quick hearing health checks and otoscopy examinations, giving visitors the chance to better understand their hearing and ear health in a relaxed and informal setting.
We brought along a range of products including hearing aids, examples of custom-made hearing protection, electronic hearing protection for shooting, and musicians’ hearing protection, and offered demonstrations to show the attendees that there is a hearing protection solution for almost every lifestyle and occupation.
Conversations That Matter
One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was the number of people who felt comfortable enough to discuss concerns they had been living with for years.
Many visitors admitted they were finding it increasingly difficult to follow conversations or distinguish speech, particularly in busy environments. Others acknowledged that they regularly worked around loud machinery without using hearing protection.
These conversations reinforced exactly why attending events like the Aberystwyth Show are so important. The opportunity to discuss hearing issues in a relaxed and informal setting can serve as the first step for many towards protecting and improving their hearing.
Thank You, And See You Next Time!
From all of us at Hear, we’d like to thank everyone who visited our stand and helped make the day such a success. We thoroughly enjoyed speaking with so many people and sharing practical advice on hearing health and hearing protection.
Thank you to all the friendly canine visitors and the children beelining to the sweet bowl, who unknowingly brought their family members to our stand and helped open up more conversations around the importance of protecting our hearing. Note to us for next time: remember the water bowl and the sweet bowls!
Your ears should never be a taboo subject. If you notice any change in your hearing health or would simply like professional advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Sometimes, a conversation is the first step towards hearing better.
Hear is looking forward to hosting another exhibition at Cardigan Show on Saturday the 1st of August. Hopefully the sun will be out for us again!