Who We Are?

Fiona joined us after nearly a decade working in a similar role in a different sector. Her previous employers provided such a glowing reference that she stood out as the perfect person to join us and to click with our team.

"I enjoy meeting and communicating with clients, making them feel welcome and at ease. In any business first impressions are vital, especially at Hearing Healthcare Practice, where visitors may be feeling nervous. It's such a friendly team here, everyone feels relaxed very soon. And it's lovely to be a part of that and see friendships grow." Fiona

One minute answers…

What's your favourite sound? I find the sound of water gently cascading over rocks very relaxing, it reminds me of family walking holidays in Yorkshire.

And your favourite music? I enjoy listening to various genres of music from the Popular Classics to anything from 60's, 70's and 80's.

What five words would you use to describe Audiology? Balance, sensitivity, awareness, rehabilitation, improvement.

Lorraine has lived locally in Harpenden all her life and brings a wealth of experience and community knowledge to the Hearing Healthcare Practice team. With a background in finance and 18 years working in education, Lorraine made the decision to seek a new challenge that would allow her to continue making a difference in people's lives.

"When I met the Hearing Healthcare Practice team," she says, "I knew instantly that this was the right place for me. The practice's ethos, that everyone is special for and treated as an individual, really resonated with me. That's exactly the message we give children in school, but it’s true for everyone, and I felt completely at home the moment I walked through the door." Lorraine

At Hearing Healthcare Practice, Lorraine says she’s found a great balance between professional challenge and personal fulfilment, working alongside like-minded colleagues while supporting people on their hearing journeys.

One minute answers…

Her favourite sound? "The wind in the trees and birdsong while I'm out walking, it's peaceful and grounding."

Her favourite music? "Anything you can dance to!"

Lorraine is excited to continue learning more about audiology and to meet the many interesting people who come through the doors of Hearing Healthcare Practice every day.

Qualifying in 1996 with a degree from the University of Witwatersrand, Natalie's 25-year career has seen her running her own practices and being selected as the National Chairperson of the South African Association of Audiologists.

Natalie decided to relocate with her family to the UK for a fresh challenge. Introduced to us in late 2019 by a mutual contact who suggested we would be the perfect fit for each other, a series of Intercontinental Zoom meetings confirmed our shared interests and standards, and we agreed to work together. The global pandemic delayed Natalie's arrival until December 2020 but, since then, she has rapidly become a key team member. Natalie's attention to detail is exceptional and we’re delighted she's joined us for what we hope will be a fulfilling personal and professional journey.

"I became an audiologist to help bring back something that someone has lost: an opportunity to hear, connect, integrate and communicate with others. It can be a fantastically rewarding job." Natalie

One minute answers…

What’s the best thing about your job? Connecting people with one another. Treating every client as if they're your brother, mother or grandfather.

And the worst thing? Seeing how people have been misled or incorrectly treated through ignorance or ineptitude.

What makes Hearing Healthcare Practice so successful in its work? At Hearing Healthcare Practice, we take the time to find out what matters most to each and every client, and to explore all aspects of technology available to enhance their everyday listening experiences.

What's your favourite sound? The wind through the trees in a forest. I’ve also scuba-dived and swum with dolphins, an amazing experience… but it really is quiet down there!

What five words would you use to describe Audiology? Innovation. People-centred. Ever-changing. Compassion-driven. Rewarding.

She then embarked on a further two year's training in Hearing Sciences, mentored under our tutelage. Qualifying in 2007 Jo has been an important member of the Practice ever since. Her patients have become more like friends, many of them having been under her personal care for more than a decade.

Jo was regularly nominated in the Audiologist of the Year Awards which ran from 2008 to 2020, and selected for a Highly Acclaimed Commendation three years in a row. Currently on maternity leave, Jo will return to clinical practice in 2022.

"I always knew I wanted a career helping people and audiology ticks all the boxes. It's a career in which you can make a huge difference to a person's quality of life. I love the change you see in people when they can hear better. They regain their confidence, and it is wonderful to play a part in their journey." Jo

One minute answers…

What makes Hearing Healthcare Practice so successful in its work? Quite simply it's down to the personal care and attention that each individual client is given. We always spend the time to give the best possible advice. What I dislike most in my line of work is seeing people who have been let down by other hearing companies. Some may have spent a small fortune on a set of hearing aids that are totally wrong for them. That's a terrible shame.

What's the best piece of advice you had? Be kind. And never, ever give up on a client.

What's your favourite sound? Hearing my little girl giggle for the first time.

What five words would you use to describe Audiology? Helping people hear their world!

During her studies, Lauren gained valuable experience working within the NHS, including a placement year at Trafford General Hospital in her third year. After graduation, she joined Boots, where she spent a decade working across various stores in Hertfordshire. Over time, Lauren advanced from her role as a graduate audiologist to senior audiologist and eventually became an in-field trainer, where she mentored colleagues and provided training on new technologies and procedures.

“I entered audiology to help people hear better. But just as importantly, my job is to listen—to understand each patient’s unique perspective and support them along their hearing journey. It’s a privilege to be trusted to guide someone towards a better quality of life.” Lauren

One minute answers…

What’s the best thing about your job? Helping people reconnect with their lives by restoring the sounds they love. I especially enjoy seeing familiar faces over the years and hearing about their families and lives while helping them with their hearing health.

What’s the most challenging part of your job? It can be disheartening to see the inconsistencies in the level of care and service people receive depending on where they seek help for their hearing. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about hearing health and hearing aids, and the variability in patient experiences across clinics is concerning.

When did you decide to become an audiologist, and why? I come from a family of caregivers—my great-grandfather was a doctor in a small mining town in the west of Scotland, and I grew up hearing legendary stories about how he cared for his patients. I knew I wanted to work with people and do something in the sciences, but I wasn’t sure what that would be. When I came across the Audiology course in my university prospectus, it ticked all the boxes. Seeing how my grandma struggled with hearing loss later in life and how it impacted her socially and emotionally, and how hearing aids helped her, solidified my decision.

What five words would you use to describe audiology? Caring, people-centred, communication, transformative, evolving.

What makes Hearing Healthcare Practice’s approach different? Hearing Healthcare Practice has a unique, holistic approach to audiology. Unlike many clinics that focus solely on hearing aid sales, HHP sees audiology as a part of healthcare, which is vital. They define success not just by selling devices but by truly helping individuals wherever they are on their hearing journey. The dedication to providing as much time as needed to each patient, along with a first-class standard of care and best practices, is what sets HHP apart.

What’s your favourite sound? Definitely my kids giggling together when they’re up to mischief! And I’m also partial to a good Scottish accent.

Over a near fifty-year career, Robert has evolved a refreshingly enlightened approach to audiological care, far removed from the standardised methods employed at clinics and in High Street hearing aid providers around the world. His goal is to take focus away from product supply while fostering a clinical environment conducive to the development of a much deeper, more personal relationship with clients.

"From the very the start we realised that people were searching for something different. Time and time again, and more and more over the years, they have told us that the services they experienced elsewhere were impersonal and dumbed down. The sole strategy in these other practices seems to revolve around the supply of hearing aids with little empathy or desire to understand how someone was feeling and what issues they were dealing with in their lives, things their sense of hearing had a direct impact upon. In nearly every case, the focus had just been on technology and hearing aids, with little attention given to the fact that there was a person between the ears crying out, not only to hear, but to be heard. We realised this population wasn't being served adequately; their voices were lost. But their needs resonated. We knew we could make a difference to them. With everything we do, Hearing Healthcare Practice aims to challenge the status quo. We think differently."

Now in his late sixties, Robert Beiny continues to be involved at Hearing Healthcare Practice on a daily basis, guiding and challenging us to be better professionals. He describes his role today:

"Now I'm no longer consulting, my role is mainly managerial and guiding practice development. This has afforded me the luxury of being able to take a step back and view every client's hearing treatment with even greater clarity. It's so rewarding being able to mentor and coach a team, watching as they flourish and grow as individuals. I read voraciously, distil what I learn and add the experience I’ve built up over the years to guide Lauren, Natalie, Jo, Fiona and Ashley, to be the best they can be every day. It's also my role to foster an environment where the well-being of our team is paramount. Afterall, we all love to be valued and to feel we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, something that gives us meaning. This unique corporate culture is what makes Hearing Healthcare Practice a true collective force."

It's this view which has propelled Hearing Healthcare Practice to become recognised as leading hearing experts and at the forefront of independent audiology and hearing care in Hertfordshire and the UK. Robert concludes:

"We've been ever present in Harpenden for 40 years in our own dedicated space. We don't share premises, so we're not relegated to operating from, for example, a spare room in an optician, chemist or an occasional rented consulting room. So, we're not at anyone's mercy. We advocate face-to-face appointments wherever possible as the virtual world will never replace the real world. We are proud to remain 100% independent and will never compromise on our best practice approach."

"After clocking up so many years, I'm often in demand for my opinion and advice on a wide range of matters. That could be anything from international research projects, journalists wanting an interview, or national policymakers needing ideas (!) or, perhaps most important, acting as a mentor to fellow audiologists. It's so varied, there's never a dull moment."

Robert can be reached by email at [email protected]