Sound Of The Crowd

Struggling to hear conversation in a group setting, or asking people to repeat themselves? Then you could be suffering from hearing loss, says ENT specialist Stuart Rhys-Williams

- Stuart Rhys-Williams

AGEING is the main cause of hearing loss, with more than 11 million people across the UK being affected, and this is set to rise to 14.5million by 2031. People wait an average of seven years before going to their GP to talk about their hearing loss and it’s a partner or relative who typically convince them to look further into the problem.

People are often put off seeking advice as they don’t want to admit that they may need a hearing device. There’s a stigma around wearing a hearing aid, which is linked to ‘being old’ but if you are finding that others mumble when they speak or you have a problem with background noise, then it’s time to talk to your doctor about the medical help available. Only one in five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually have one.