Retired GP Mel lives with her husband in a village in the Wye Valley, Gloucestershire. She’s a busy woman: a mum, grandmother, Nordic walking instructor, community volunteer – and a longstanding member of RNID . Here Mel shares her experience of hearing loss, and what being an RNID member means to her. Mel in her garden, wearing her members' pin badge and holding a copy of RNID Magazine....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change — this is a personal patient narrative with no clinical data or practice guidance.
Patient lived-experience stories like this remind audiologists of the social and emotional impact of hearing loss beyond the clinical encounter, reinforcing the value of signposting patients to peer-support communities.
- 01Retired GP Mel experienced significant hearing loss and felt isolated before finding support.
- 02RNID membership provided her with community, connection, and a sense of belonging.
- 03The story illustrates the psychosocial burden of hearing loss that extends beyond audiological treatment.
- 04No clinical interventions, treatments, or research findings are discussed.
