Mission Statement
About Ear Health Matters Ltd
The Vision
To challenge the stigma associated with taking good care of your ears and promote the benefits of better ear and hearing health at all stages of life.
I want to see a world where 'take care of your ears' is as normal as 'move away from the TV' and 'brush your teeth'.
As technology and understanding advances, we are learning more and more about our ears and their importance in other areas of health. I want to bring my passion for ear health to as many people as possible, in the hope that some day the vision can finally be realised.
I want good ear and hearing health to become as important as taking care of our eyes and teeth. We are taught from a young age about the dangers of ignoring optical or oral health, and are encouraged to have regular sight tests and dental checks. Yet we are taught nothing about our ears, which are ignored until there's an issue. It is only when we cannot hear that we fully appreciate the true value and importance of our hearing. I want to bring attention to ear health and to the many conditions that can affect your ears, other than earwax and hearing loss, and the importance of regular checks so that problems can be identified sooner, and if necessary treated before they become more serious.
About Me
My name is David Clark. My career in hearing care started in 1992 and during those 30+ years I've been employed by many of the biggest names in the industry.
My natural empathy has always led me to focus on the clients' needs first and foremost, and I believe being thorough and accurate is far more important than chasing huge profits.
Delivery of my client focused consultation style became increasingly difficult with the larger, high street, corporate firms, where the emphasis was too much on the principle of 'time is money'. The only way to give my clients the service I know they deserve, was to form my own company.
Who Am I ?
My Qualifications
I started my career in Hearingcare in 1992 when I registered as a trainee hearing aid dispenser with the Hearing Aid Council. I qualified in 1994 and never looked back. In 2010 the Hearing Aid Council Act was repealed and taken off the statute books and regulation of Hearing Aid Dispensers was switched from the Hearing Aid Council to the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Private hearingcare practitioners must be registered with the HCPC to practice and follow the Standards of Proficiency they set.
Over the years I've added to my skill set and have been employed as a trainer, helping others to develop their knowledge and skills. I qualified in 2011 in earwax removal by irrigation and instrumentation and in 2017 I was registered for also using microsuction. Read more about the earwax removal and services I provide.
Who I've Worked for
I have worked in both a domiciliary and high street branch based environment throughout my career. I have worked for many of the high street hearingcare brands but in 2018 I decided to redirect my focus.
My own experience, along with the evidence of the Which report, confirmed to me that starting Ear Health Matters Ltd was the right thing to do, as it allowed me to follow my philosophy of, 'taking time to care, making time to be thorough'.
Each year the consumer report conducted by Which shows independent hearing care practices score better for customer service and overall experience than many of the high street providers. The report is based on responses from members of the public, who are hearing aid wearers, and who appreciate that for an improved, more personalised service, it's worth paying a little bit more.
Since 2018 apart from a very short period with a high street brand, I've focused mainly on working in the independent sector. My own experience is that the independent practices, for the most part, still focus on their clients getting the best possible advice and having the best possible experience.