HARD of hearing actorLarry Lamb has joined forces with a national hearing loss partnership to reach out to an estimated four million people in the UK that would benefit from hearing aids*. 

Larry, of EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey fame, has helped to launch the Sound Check the Nation campaign, which is the first joint initiative by Action on Hearing Loss and partner Specsavers hearing centres. The partnership aims to provide one million free hearing  checks nationwide by October 2012in-store and online, as well as a nationwide tour.

Evidence suggests that many people with hearing loss are not taking action. Research by Specsavers hearing centres has shown that 1 in 3 people with hearing difficulties are too embarrassed to wear a hearing aid and refuse to visit an audiologist**.

Jackie Ballard, chief executive  of Action on Hearing Loss, says: ‘ “According to our research, there is, on average, a ten year delay between someone recognising their symptoms of hearing loss and getting treatment. Through our Sound Check the Nation campaign we want to encourage people to act now and take our hearing check to get the life changing benefits from hearing aids sooner”.

Mathew Gully, director of Specsavers hearing centres, says: ‘We shall be working together with Action on Hearing Loss to remove the stigma associated with hearing loss. It’s time to normalise it, much as Specsavers has done with glasses, by offering people easy access to the best possible solutions.

Larry Lamb says: ‘I lost my hearing almost overnight after contracting malaria in Senegal. That’s unusual but, no matter how you lose it, the result is a feeling of complete isolation. Everything becomes so much more difficult and there’s a temptation not to bother. It’s easier just to tune out.

‘I couldn’t believe that there are four million people in the UK who are ignoring their hearing loss. The solution is out there and it starts with a simple hearing test, which is free. So don’t suffer in silence. Get involved in Sound Check the Nation, get it checked out and start to live your life again.’

To find your nearest Specsavers hearing centre for a free hearing check, log onto www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing or go online at www.checkyourhearing.co.uk.

Image L-R:  Matthew Gully, Product and Marketing Director, Specsavers Hearcare. Jackie Ballard, Cheif Executive Action on Hearing Loss. Larry Lamb, Actor.

* Action on Hearing Loss, Hearing Matters Report
** Sound Check the Nation survey of 825 UK residents carried out between 15 March 2011 and 09 April 2011