Significant numbers of people with learning disabilities have hearing loss that often goes untreated. In this article, Denny Fransman includes a personal account of improved hearing through the use of digital aids and offers information about key aspects of hearing loss

Digital hearing aids have transformed Sonia’s life after a long struggle with a hearing impairment. After she was fitted with her hearing aids her life improved radically and she said: ‘I want to write a book about it because I don’t want people to suffer like I did.’ Sonia was interviewed and the interview transcribed. Her words form the basis of this article and are supplemented by information on some key issues relating to hearing loss. This is Sonia’s story.