Hear Right, Think Bright
Check it. Treat it. Protect it.
Around 10 million people in the UK could benefit from hearing aids, yet only around 3 million currently wear them. BDAA is urging people not to ignore the signs of hearing loss, highlighting the growing evidence linking untreated hearing loss with cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.
Untreated hearing loss can affect far more than a person’s ability to hear. Research suggests that the social isolation caused by hearing loss, combined with the additional effort the brain must make to process sounds, may increase the risk of developing dementia. Hearing loss is now recognised as one of the most significant modifiable risk factors associated with cognitive decline.
Many people delay seeking help because of common misconceptions, including concerns that hearing aids are uncomfortable, make them feel old, create unwanted noise, make everything sound too loud, or are too expensive.
However, many of these concerns can be addressed. Hearing aids that are uncomfortable, whistling, or making sounds seem excessively loud can often be adjusted by a hearing care provider. In addition, NHS hearing aids are available free of charge for those who need them.
Another challenge is that age-related hearing loss often develops gradually, meaning many people do not realise their hearing has deteriorated.
Lisa, General Manager at BDAA, said:
“My family had been complaining about how loud I had the television, but I dismissed it. I then started to notice that I was struggling to follow conversations in groups. I booked a hearing test and was shocked to discover I had moderate hearing loss in both ears. I was fitted with free hearing aids that day. It took some time to adjust, but I couldn’t do without them now. I hadn’t realised how dull my world had become.”
BDAA is encouraging anyone who is finding conversations harder to follow, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, or turning up the television volume more than usual to take action and have their hearing checked.