Hearing loss is a common condition that can affect people in many ways. Around one in six people in the UK has hearing loss, from children who are born with it to people who lose their hearing as they get older.
It can be quite an unsettling condition to experience and can also have an impact on those around you, too. So, if you are worried about hearing loss, or think you might know someone who is, we’re here to help.
Signs of hearing loss
If you’ve noticed any signs of hearing loss in yourself, or in a loved one, it might be a good idea to check your hearing online, pop into a store for a hearing test or ask our experts for some advice.
It can be difficult to tell if you’re losing your hearing, and in some cases, people around you might notice before you do. It can be especially tricky to recognise hearing loss symptoms if you have a hearing impairment in one ear but can still hear perfectly with the other.
Some of the most common signs of hearing loss include:
- Having to ask people to repeat themselves, or misunderstanding what they say
- Turning the volume higher than you used to on the TV, radio or on your headphones
- Struggling to hear people on the phone
When to seek urgent medical help
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if:
- You have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
- Your hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
- You have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as an earache or discharge from the ear
It might not be anything serious, but it's best to get help as it may need to be treated quickly.
What does hearing loss sound like?
Types of hearing loss
When we experience hearing loss, it simply means that the sounds around us aren’t being communicated properly to our brains. There are a number of reasons why this might happen, depending on the type of hearing impairment that someone has.
There are two main types of hearing loss: sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. It’s also possible to have both at the same time, which is referred to as mixed hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the cells that pick up sound or to the nerves that carry information from the ear to the brain. This could include damage to the inner ear, the auditory nerve (the nerve that runs from the ear to the brain), or the brain itself.
Conductive hearing loss is usually caused by blockages in the ear canal or middle ear, which reduces the level of sound that can pass through to the inner ear.
Hearing loss and the brain
Hearing is such an important part of how we understand and process the world around us, so hearing loss can have a profound effect on different areas of the brain, including mental and cognitive health. Read more about hearing loss and dementia here.
How does hearing loss impact mental health?
Despite so many people being affected by hearing loss, there is still some stigma around it, and many people don’t want to admit it is happening to them. As hearing loss develops, it can have more of an impact on different areas of your social life, from struggling to catch important information during meetings at work, to having to ask people to repeat themselves multiple times. This can make us not want to take part in social situations or make us feel anxious and impact our self-esteem. Unfortunately, retreating from social life has a huge impact on our mental wellbeing.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone you know, you can find out more information on how hearing loss impacts mental health here.
Risk factors for hearing loss
The most common causes of hearing loss are ageing and exposure to excessive noise. Some other risk factors include:
- Trauma to the head or ear
- Autoimmune conditions — such as rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune inner ear disease
- Hereditary conditions — including Alport syndrome, a genetic condition associated with hearing loss
Age-related hearing loss
Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, is one of the most common types of hearing loss and typically develops gradually as we get older. It often affects both ears and can make it harder to hear high-pitched sounds or follow conversations, especially in noisy environments. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of presbycusis.
Understanding your hearing
While your ear and all the structures of your ear process and transport the electrical impulses that make up sound, it’s your brain that actually ‘hears’ and translates this information into the things you recognise as words, music, or noise.
That’s why hearing and hearing impairments can have such far-reaching impacts. And why more and more research is being done into how hearing impairment can affect our mental health, as well as how we process and store information.
Is hearing loss a disability?
Depending on the type and severity of your hearing impairment, you may find that you fall into the disability category of the Equality Act 2010. Usually, this applies if you’re deaf and use British Sign Language or, in some cases, if you have a profound hearing loss that means you need to wear hearing aids.
You may be entitled to certain benefits and grants, and your employer might be required to make adjustments to help you at work if you fall into this category, so it’s worth finding out. For example, you might be eligible for a disabled person’s railcard if you have a hearing impairment and wear hearing aids.
Treatment for hearing loss
Your doctor or audiologist will discuss which treatment they feel is best with you, which will depend on the cause and severity of your hearing impairment. In some cases, hearing loss can get better on its own or be treated with medicine or a simple procedure.
Hearing aids are commonly recommended as a way to manage hearing loss. If this is suggested as the best way forward for you, your audiologist will talk you through the next steps.
What technology or resources are available for those who are hard of hearing?
If you have any concerns about your hearing health, hearing aids, or if you’re having trouble with communication, you can always get in touch with us for some advice.
- Post a question on our Ask the experts Facebook group and one of our audiologists will get back to you.
- Get in touch with your nearest Specsavers team by calling your local store for some advice.
A useful resource to keep an eye on if you’re struggling with hearing loss is the Action on Hearing Loss website, where you can find up-to-date information on hearing loss. You might find technology like Relay UK and the Next Generation Text (NGT) service helpful to use when making phone calls.
A hearing check at Specsavers is free, quick, easy and totally non-invasive. If the results suggest a need for hearing aids, our qualified hearing care professionals can help you, or your friend or family member, to decide on a hearing aid that’s right for the situation. In most cases, we can even fit hearing aids on the same day as the test*.
*Subject to availability