The market was in full swing and the streets were bustling with shoppers - but everyone seemed to be going about their business without a whisper.

Odder still on closer inspection, the stall traders were actually opening their mouths to tell everyone about how little a pound of apples cost, but nothing was coming out.
This is the everyday experience of one in seven people - welcome to the world of the hard of hearing.

And with the help of Scrivens Opticians in Regent Street, and to coincide with National Deaf Awareness Week, I was able to get a first hand experience of what nine million people suffer every time they go shopping.

As well as being an opticians, the company specialise in hearing problems and provide free tests.

So Scrivens' Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser, Richard Shinnick, was more than happy to show me how deaf people cope with the busy Rugby streets by injecting a silicon-based material into my ears - and the results were startling.
Surprisingly, I could still hear what people very close to me were saying but as soon as I could not see their lips, the problems began.

"One of the major things you will feel is a sense of isolation," Richard advised me.

And he was absolutely right. All around me people were doing everyday things, but it was as if I was not part of the world anymore.

I soon became tired as I was using my other senses to make up for the slight loss of hearing.

With Richard's help, I was able to weave my way through a busy market place, no doubt ignoring friends and inadvertently offending many others along the way.

To really test the ears, Richard and I tried to hold together something bordering on a conversation, although the random responses I gave to questions I thought I heard must have made a comical moment for passers-by.

At this point I would like to apologise to the man who was good enough to give me directions to the station, and then had to endure me standing very close to him, staring at his lips and then, to add insult to injury, walk off in completely the wrong direction.

And to the newsagent staff who patiently helped the strange guy with blue silicon coming out of his ears try and buy a newspaper.

It's a simple activity which many of take for granted - but can be like painting the Forth bridge for those with hearing difficulties.

And of course the silent oncoming traffic can become a very dangerous hazard.

Whether you are walking down the street, sitting in a coffee shop or watching TV at home, the background noises blur into one.

Consonants disappear and vowels are the only syllables you can hear, hence words become misinterpreted.

"This leads to many arguments between couples as they accuse one another of mumbling," said Richard.

"People think they can solve it by shouting. In fact it's the clarity of the words that is the key."

"People come to us to get their eyes tested but do not check their hearing, because they say that they are not deaf.

"That's like saying I am not going to the dentist because I do not have tooth ache.

"We live in a noiser environment and need to take better care of our hearing."

The scary truth is that deafness creeps up with age, so many are not even aware of the problem.

Luckily for me, I was able to take out the ear blockers and get a second chance to be completely overwhelmed to hear the many different sounds that only market day can provide.

I never thought I would be so happy to hear a market trader shouting in my ear again...

For more information on Scrivens' free ear tests, call (01788) 572719.