SCOTTY MCLACHLAN, 31, WAIKATO
When I started losing my hearing at 21, I missed listening to music the most. I had enjoyed going to gigs and concerts with my mates, listening to music in the car and having my playlist going in the house. All that was gone when my hearing went.
My friends and family also noticed that I wasn't hearing things too well, as I was missing the gist of conversations and getting the complete wrong end of the stick. For a long time I was in denial about how bad things were, until family and friends finally convinced me to get my hearing checked.