Former Ipswich Town defender Russell Osman hopes to shine a light on hearing loss as he is named ambassador for All About Hearing
A former Ipswich Town defender has shared his experiences with hearing loss in a bid to encourage others to seek help.
Russell Osman, who played for The Blues between 1976 and 1985, is seeking to ‘challenge the stigma’ around wearing hearing aids.
The 65-year-old has described his battle with tinnitus in the hopes of increasing public awareness of hearing loss.
This comes as he was named as the first ambassador for All About Hearing, based in Ipswich, who recently fitted him with hearing aids.
Mr Osman said: “I was hesitant to seek help for my hearing loss and tinnitus, but I’m so glad I did.
“Karen and the team at All About Hearing were incredibly supportive and understanding.
“The hearing aids I’ve been fitted with have made a huge difference. I can now hear conversations more clearly, enjoy music and TV again, and even confidently participate in social activities, such as my beloved golf.”
All About Hearing is run by mother-and-son team Karen Finch and Matthew Coward, who run two clinics in Ipswich – one at Two Rivers Medical Centre in Woodbridge Road East, and the other at Gilmour Piper, in Fonnereau Road.
Mr Coward said hearing loss affects 11 million people in the UK – and roughly 250,000 in Suffolk alone.
Many have never sought help from audiologists or had hearing assessments, he said.
Mr Coward added: “To aid us in our mission, we are thrilled to welcome Russell as our very first hearing ambassador.
“His firsthand experience and his passion for encouraging others to act sooner than he did, will undoubtedly inspire others to seek help.”