House of Hearing Thame audiologist Hollie Wicks has raised more than £1,700 for Alzheimer’s Society, helping to shine a light on the link between hearing and brain health.
We’re so proud of Hollie, who completed the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday 11 October to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.
Hollie ran the 13.1-mile course in two hours, 11 minutes and 44 seconds, and has raised more than £1,700 so far. That’s £700 above her original target, and donations are still coming in. Many of them came from the incredibly generous patients she looks after in clinic.
Why this cause matters to Hollie
The cause is close to Hollie’s heart, both as an audiologist and as a young woman with hearing loss herself.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me and donated to Alzheimer’s Society, especially my wonderful patients and the team at House of Hearing. Knowing how many of them were behind me is what kept me going past the 10-mile mark,” Hollie said.
“Having hearing loss myself, I know how much it can affect your confidence and how connected you feel to the people around you. That’s why I’m so passionate about encouraging people to look after their hearing health, and why this cause means so much to me.”
13 miles in hearing aids
Hollie wasn’t sure how her hearing aids would cope on race day, but they passed the test.
“I’ll admit I was curious about how my hearing aids would cope with 13 miles of running, sweat and crowd noise, but they were brilliant. My name was printed on my race bib, so I could hear complete strangers shouting it and cheering me on the whole way round. That kind of support really carries you.”
The link between hearing and dementia
According to Alzheimer's Society, people who develop untreated hearing problems in midlife, between the ages of 40 and 65, may be at greater risk of developing dementia. The charity says people with mild hearing loss are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia as those without, rising to three times as likely with moderate hearing loss and almost five times with severe hearing loss.
One reason may be that people with hearing problems are more likely to withdraw from social situations and become isolated, and social isolation is itself a risk factor for dementia. Hearing loss may also make the parts of the brain that process sound and speech work harder, which could affect memory and thinking over time.
It’s important to remember that having hearing loss doesn’t mean someone will definitely develop dementia. But it’s a good reason to look after your hearing and get it checked regularly.
Support from the Thame community
Hollie’s patients were among her biggest supporters.
Stephen Shipperley said: “Hollie is not only a breath of fresh air, she also provides a great service to the Thame community. Our family has been touched by Alzheimer’s, so supporting Hollie and the charity was an easy decision.”
Paul Crouch added: “In recognition of the excellent service and support I have received with my hearing issues, I was very pleased to be able to support Hollie in her contribution to the community. Not only does Hollie skilfully deal with the practical issues in-clinic, her counsel is very helpful in dealing with the day-to-day issues associated with hearing loss, including the potential impact it can have on relationships.”
Peter Sydserff, Clinical Director at House of Hearing, added: “We’re incredibly proud of Hollie. As well as raising vital funds, she’s started a much bigger conversation about hearing health and dementia across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We hope it encourages more people to book a hearing test and take their hearing health seriously.”
How you can help
There’s still time to support Hollie. You can donate to her Alzheimer’s Society fundraiser here.
To find out more about the link between hearing loss and dementia, visit the visit Alzheimer's Society's dedicated page or speak to one of our team.