Acclaimed author Sir Ian Rankin says he has discovered a world of new sounds after being fitted with a hearing device, which could influence future novels.
After decades of living in a ‘muffled’ world, the 65-year-old Scottish crime novelist has realised he was missing out as he walked through the very environments that inspire his work.
Now, thanks to Specsavers Morningside’s audiologist, the creator of the iconic Edinburgh-based Inspector Rebus series says ‘the snap, crackle and pop of everyday life has come into focus’ thanks to a high-definition hearing device.
Ian Rankin says: ‘When it came to getting a hearing check, I was reluctant to in a blokey way – blokes are often reluctant to do anything adjacent to anything medical. But my wife kept saying I couldn’t hear her when we were a few metres apart, so she twisted my arm to get checked.
‘I’d been to Specsavers for my glasses, so it wasn’t so scary, and I found out my hearing loss was “mild to moderate”. Not terrible, but noticeable enough that I’d have trouble hearing people when I was in a busy environment like a pub or restaurant.
‘Now, I can hear a crisp bag opening at 20 paces. I also attended a recent party with my publishers and instead of smiling, nodding and struggling through I could actually hear people properly. It’s made a big difference.’
Sir Ian, who has sold over 35 million books worldwide, is famed for his gritty, immersive, sensory-driven depictions of Edinburgh – from pub chatter and music to quiet eerie streets and sharp sounds that build suspense.
He said his sensory awakening may influence future books as he wandered the streets attuned to new sounds.
He explains: ‘Previously, the everyday sounds of the outside world were muffled or I wouldn’t hear them at all. Now I’m much more aware of sounds like leaves blowing down a pavement and birds chirping in the bushes and trees.
‘All the senses are so important for an author. I see things and think “that would be good in a book”. I hear things and think “oh that’s a very typical sound of Edinburgh, I’ll use that”. I may smell something that’s indicative of the time or place. My antennae are going all the time.
‘Now, when I’m walking around Edinburgh there’s going to be more focus on the sounds I wasn’t able to hear properly before, so things might well make it into my next book that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.’
Sir Ian visited audiology director Jonathan Bell at the Morningside business. He leads the Edinburgh Specsavers Hearcare team and says an important part of fitting someone with a hearing device for the first time is preparing them for a period of ‘brain recalibration’.
Jonathan says: ‘When we restore frequencies the brain hasn't processed in years, the world can initially feel busy. It isn't that these sounds are too loud, it’s that they are suddenly present again.
‘We managed Sir Ian’s expectations from the start, explaining that this is a vital part of the brain waking up and learning to prioritise speech over background noise once more. Within three weeks he noticed the initial electronic edge of those new sounds began to settle and he got used to the devices which, initially, felt like foreign objects.
‘Many people like Sir Ian who struggled with busy environments tend to find that a hearing device can help with the clarity of consonant sounds like ‘s’, ‘t’, and ‘f’, bringing critical definition back to human speech. It’s wonderful to hear him report back to us that he feels more connected to the world than he has in years.’
Giving some words of encouragement to anyone who may be putting off getting their hearing checked, or are nervous about the idea of hearing device, Sir Ian adds: ‘Many people have this notion that hearing devices are big clunky things like the ones we used to wear generations ago, but they’re almost invisible these days. Being able to control my hearing device with my mobile phone makes it much more subtle too, as I just look like I’m texting or checking my phone.
‘They’re not a magic potion, they won’t cure you, and I’m still getting used to mine because I have tinnitus too, but ultimately the difference they can make is incredible.’
For more information or to book a hearing check, call Specsavers Edinburgh Morningside on 0131 446 9960 or go to www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/edinburgh.
Issued by Tigerbond on behalf of Specsavers Morningside
For more information, please contact:
T: 07740 492 333
