Blog Archives

December 2025

12/9/2025

Hearing Well at Holiday Gatherings

The festive season is a wonderful time to reconnect with family and friends- but for many people with hearing difficulties, noisy gatherings can feel overwhelming. From clinking dishes to background music and multiple conversations happening at once, it’s easy to miss important moments. With a few simple strategies, you can make your holiday celebrations clearer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.

Try choosing a seat with your back to a wall to reduce background noise, and position yourself close to the people you want to hear most. Don’t be afraid to ask hosts to turn down music or adjust lighting so you can see faces more easily-good communication is a team effort. If you wear hearing aids, make sure they’re cleaned, charged, and programmed for noisy environments; features like directional microphones or noise-reduction settings can make a big difference.

If you find gatherings particularly challenging, planning ahead can make a world of difference. Consider letting friends or family know what helps you communicate best-whether that’s speaking one at a time, choosing a quieter corner to chat, or adjusting background noise. Many people are more than happy to help once they understand what you need. And if you’re hosting, small changes like softer music, warm lighting, and thoughtful seating arrangements can create a far more hearing-friendly environment for everyone.

And remember, Kara is here to help you get the best from your hearing devices this season. Whether you need a quick check, some fine-tuning, or advice, we’re here to ensure you enjoy every festive conversation with confidence and clarity.

To book an appointment with Kara please contact us through are website or contact Dave on 01872 857 512. For up to date information or other top tips please check out our Facebook page.

Sudden Hearing Loss Support

Sudden changes in hearing can be worrying, and recognising the signs early is incredibly important. Sudden hearing loss-often noticed upon waking, during a phone call, or over the course of a day-can feel like sound is muffled, distorted, or significantly reduced in one ear. Some people may also experience ringing (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness in the ear or hear a "pop" at the time of loss.While many hearing changes have simple explanations, sudden hearing loss should always be treated as an urgent medical concern. Don’t wait to see if it improves on its own. Contact your GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible for assessment, and seek emergency care if it’s accompanied by severe dizziness, headache, or other worrying symptoms. Early action really does make a difference.

For additional details please use www.suddenhearingloss.support for comprehensive information on all aspects SSNHL.

Our Christmas Opening Hours

As we approach the festive season, we want to make sure you have everything you need from us during this busy and joyful time. Please take note of our adjusted opening hours over the holidays.

We will be open as normal up until the 23rd of December, including our late-night Wednesday opening hours, which coincide with most of Truro’s late-night shopping.
On 24th December, we will close early at 1pm.
The practice will then be closed from 25th December through to Friday, 2nd January, when our normal opening hours will resume.

We encourage you to plan ahead and reach out to us with any enquiries before the holiday rush. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year. We wish you a wonderful festive season filled with joy, rest, and celebration!

Mince Pies

Ingredients

225g cold butter, diced
350g plain flour
100g golden caster sugar
280g mincemeat
1 small egg, beaten
Icing sugar, to dust

Method
Step 1
Rub the cold diced butter into the plain flour. Mix in the golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt.

Step 2
Bring the mixture together into a ball of pastry—don’t add liquid. Knead briefly. The dough should be fairly firm, like shortbread. Use immediately or chill.

Step 3
Heat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / gas 6. Press small walnut-sized balls of pastry into 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins.

Step 4
Spoon the mincemeat into the pastry cases. Make slightly smaller balls of pastry, flatten them into rounds, and use them as lids.

Step 5
Place the lids on top and press gently to seal. They’ll stick without milk or egg. Can be frozen for up to one month.

Step 6
Brush the tops with beaten egg and bake for 20 minutes until golden. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar to serve. Keeps 3–4 days in an airtight container.

These mince pies contain gluten (wheat), dairy (butter), and egg, and the mincemeat may also include sulphites or nuts depending on the brand. Always check the mincemeat label, especially for nut or sulphite sensitivities.