All About Hearing, which launched in December 2022, is a fully independent, family-run healthcare business founded by award-winning Audiologist Karen Finch, who previously owned another very successful hearing company in the area for well over 20 years.
Karen and her All About Hearing team are dedicated to carrying out comprehensive hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings and ear wax removal, as well as support and counselling for those suffering from tinnitus.
Located next to Christchurch Park, All About Hearing is based within Gilmour Piper, a multi-disciplinary healthcare practice close to the town centre. The clinic also has free parking for those coming from further afield.
All About Hearing also has an outreach clinic at Two Rivers Medical Centre, located near Ipswich Hospital, as well as a home visit service for housebound patients to be seen in the comfort of their own home.
Owner and Audiologist Karen Finch, whose team includes her husband Melvyn Howe, has been delighted by the customer response.
She explains: “So far, feedback is really positive. Patients have been impressed by the quality of service, the facilities, and the way in which we can resolve their hearing issues.”
Expansion plans have quickly escalated due to such interest, and Karen and Melvyn are now joined by experienced Audiologist Teresa Sadler who joined the team in March.
“Ear health and decreasing hearing levels are very personal” Karen says “patients are seeking a high-level, personal involvement from their audiologist. This is a key part of our professional approach, maximising hearing outcomes.”
The business, which is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, has family at its heart.
“In the world of high street brands and big corporate businesses, I believe that people still choose to buy locally and from a family-run business. People buy from people,” Karen says. “Whether it’s All About Hearing or my previous business, we have always made our patients feel as though they are part of our family and consider ‘what if this was my mother, brother or sister that was needing hearing help. How would I want them to be looked after?’.”
“We are a fully independent hearing healthcare provider, creating personal hearing care plans, fitting the very best technology, independent of source, to suit the precise needs of the patient.”
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) says that in the UK, 12 million adults – or one in five – have a significant degree of hearing loss.
And to point out, ensuring ear health is well looked after is an important part of our daily life.
“Hearing problems are prevalent, particularly as we get older, but it’s quite often a hidden issue in the beginning”, Karen explains – “by attending a hearing assessment as soon as possible, a person’s quality of life can be greatly improved. It is well documented that general hearing wellbeing is strongly connected to lots of other aspects of health and wellbeing, including reducing your risk of falling, and reducing the risk of early onset dementia.” The Guardian printed on the 11th March 2023 one of the four changes to make now to ‘Have a Healthy Brain’ is to use a hearing system to keep dementia at bay.
Ear Wax – Resolving ear wax issues is also a big part of All About Hearing’s work. “Blocked ears can obviously cause temporary hearing loss, but it can also cause earache, tinnitus and sometimes even dizziness.”
“With wax removal, the important thing is that it is done in a timely manner. If your ears are feeling full and sound intake is reduced – it can be a big problem for you which needs resolved speedily.”
“We offer quick, painless and effective treatments – very often being able to accommodate clients within 1 or 2 days in our specially set aside emergency appointment slots.”
Karen, who has over 25 years’ experience in the hearing care profession, working in both the NHS and private sector concludes: “Whilst All About Hearing is a new practice, we are a family-run business with a long-standing pedigree, are well-thought of and well-connected in the Suffolk health community over many years.”
“Our friendly and professional audiology team have over 60 years of combined experience, so you can rest assured that you are in the very best hands.”
To book an appointment with All About Hearing, telephone 01473 946 444 or visit www.allabouthearing.co.uk
Clinic locations:
- Gilmour Piper, 10 Fonnereau Road, Ipswich, IP1 3JP
- Two Rivers Medical Centre, 30 Woodbridge Road East, Ipswich, IP4 5PB
About Karen’s story
Karen Finch is one of the leading audiologists in the UK with more than 30 years’ experience working in the profession.
Karen has worked within the audiology profession since 1993, having previously worked within the NHS. She embarked on her audiological career originally joining as Practice Manager for an independent hearing centre.
She set up her own award-winning practice in Ipswich town centre in 1998, and over a 22-year period grew that business to a team of 25 staff, looking after patients from 26 clinics across Suffolk and Norfolk. In 2020, Karen sold the business due to health and family issues just before Covid arrived.
Karen is a past President and a Fellow of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA). She has won several national and local awards over the years for her dedication to her profession, her entrepreneurialism, and her high levels of patient care.
