IMAGINE living in a world without sound?

Communication is an essential element of our daily lives - but imagine what it must be like for those living in a silent society? It is hard to comprehend - yet for one in six of the UK population hearing loss is a reality they have to cope with.

The recent Deaf Awareness Week profiled the importance of treatment and community support to improve the quality of life of those affected by hearing loss.

Awareness is imperative as evidence suggests a 10 year delay in adults seeking help for their hearing loss, and up to 45 per cent of adults reporting hearing loss are not referred for a hearing test or a hearing device.

MED-EL research shows that 16 per cent of people surveyed in West Yorkshire reported that if they had the symptoms of hearing loss they would completely ignore them and nearly half of those surveyed attributed the delay in diagnosis to the often gradual onset of the condition.

Sally Hammond, from Ilkley, started to lose her hearing more than 30 years ago. "My Husband and I were at an event where some individual musical notes were being played and I realised I hadn't heard some of the top ones," says the 79-year-old mother of two.

"I went to see a Specialist who after doing a few tests said bluntly `you are going to lose your hearing.. it could be tomorrow or it could go gradually`... pretty scary stuff. I was eventually referred to the LGI where I was looked after very well for many years."

Then in 2014 Sally, whose career was spent mainly in sales and marketing, was asked if she wanted to be put forward for an Implant at the Hearing and Balance Centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Her decision proved life changing.... "By then my hearing seemed to be going at an alarming rate. Even then I wasn’t sure that I would have an Implant. ......I might not be suitable and of course also I found it pretty scary. However in the end when it was offered there was no question but that it was the only way forward. I had learnt to lip read early on and was quite good at one to one but in a group it was getting pretty hopeless. My life was draining away. Unfortunately, people soon forget you're deaf or find it's too much trouble to look at you and you soon feel left out and not only that it makes you angry.

"My experience at the Hearing and Balance Centre has been life changing. They are all incredibly dedicated to helping you succeed. Nothing is too much trouble."

Since receiving her hearing implants last October, Sally's life has changed significantly.

“My life has definitely changed for the better. I am engaging with people as much as I used to do. Its early days yet but now I can hear the Radio and TV.. I can hear birds tweeting cars going past, hear someone in the other room talking . All the things I used to take for granted.”

"It is considered early days, even now. Things improve all the time but what I hear is not what normal people hear yet. My brain has to relearn what it has forgotten. I have to go regularly to The Centre to be turned up, adjusted and have speech and language lessons. Also there are lessons to be done at home. So it's a gradual process over a long period of time."

"It has already made a tremendous difference to my life. I can now hear people talking behind me or beside me. I was amazed when I suddenly heard this incredible noise and it was a car going past. I have suddenly heard birds tweeting. I still cannot use the telephone and some places have acoustics that effect my ability. Also I can't understand music yet, but that comes from perseverance.

"However, my friends are amazed at how much better I am coping with things and I am very grateful for being given the opportunity of having the implant."

Sally thanks all those involved in her care and support over the years and is now urging people to speak to their GP about testing if they feel they may be experiencing problems with their hearing. Hearing implant devices can enable people with severe or profound hearing loss to hear. It is estimated that in the UK over 90 per cent of eligible adults on the NHS remain un-implanted.

"My advice to anyone considering an implant is to go for it. Don't be afraid, you will be well looked after and the rewards are life changing," says Sally.

"I am only at the beginning of my journey and now I am looking forward, not inwards."

For more information visit medel.com/uk/hearing-loss.