As hearing better and living better is what motivates us at Starkey, we love to receive positive stories about hearing aid wearers that don’t let their hearing loss hold them back! As you can imagine, we were delighted to discover Charlotte Payne, a British athlete, and Starkey ITE wearer who hasn’t let hearing loss hold her back.
Charlotte's Better Hearing Journey
Charlotte was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was just 3 years old and her parents were told that she wouldn't be able to balance properly either, which was understandably worrying. After trying different types of hearing solution, with different hearing healthcare professionals, Charlotte struggled to find a solution that enabled her to hear effectively at school and in many other social settings. Overtime this hearing loss made everyday tasks much more difficult to complete, which caused a huge amount of frustration.
A few years ago, a visit to the Mary Hare Hearing Centre changed everything! Denise Payne, Charlotte’s mother noticed an immediate difference after using her new hearing aids: “Charlotte really turned a corner and I have no doubt at all that her confidence has grown massively since getting the right hearing aids for her. Little did we know that she would achieve what she has in sport and attain top grades in her A-levels, especially after being told she would never read properly!” Being able to communicate effectively in social settings and passing exams based on her early diagnosis is one thing, but Charlotte isn’t one to rest on her laurels!
Joining Team GB
Overcoming adversity is something Charlotte achieves on an almost daily basis! Charlotte’s hard work, determination and endeavour has seen her become one of the top prospects in British Athletics. A few months ago, Charlotte faced the strongest and most experienced Hammer-Throw competitors in Britain as she took part in the British Athletic Championships 2020 - walking away with a Silver medal at just 18 years of age! It’s great to see this level of success, and something that makes it all the more special, is the fact that Charlotte is able to slot in with the GB Team and socialise with her teammates without having to worry about not hearing them!
The world is Charlotte’s oyster, as we also received the great news that she has been selected for the Olympic Futures Programme by British Athletics! Great work Charlotte!
Denise is also keen to outline the importance of a knowledgeable hearing specialist that can find the right hearing solution for your specific needs. “Mary Hare Hearing Centre have been absolutely fantastic and have become real friends to the whole family! Nothing is ever too much trouble and we're so grateful.”