Despite the fact that deafness can be socially isolating, it can take up to 15 years for people who clearly have hearing loss to get tested. And 4 million people in the UK have undiagnosed hearing loss, according to Action on Hearing Loss, the UK charity taking action on hearing loss.
A key reason for those long years in denial about deafness is the stigma of hearing loss.
Losing your hearing is associated with getting old and there is an outdated perception that hearing aids are old-fashioned and unsightly. Not to mention the prejudice many people who can’t hear properly face from society.
If you have hearing loss, you may feel cut off from the world, and this can lead to depression. Your confidence can also be eroded, causing you to avoid social contact.
Hearing loss and relationships
Delaying diagnosis can also damage your relationships with family and friends. An Action on Hearing Loss survey of couples where one partner had hearing loss found that hearing problems can be very frustrating for partners. In some cases, hearing loss results in couples talking at cross-purposes. This causes friction which can develop into ongoing resentment.
Partners of people with hearing loss also commonly complain of loneliness, feeling isolated, missing out on companionship and a poor social life because previous social activities are curtailed.
But ignoring the problem of hearing loss won’t make it go away. And you could be missing out on devices that could help you hear better and improve you and your partner's quality of life.
If you’re suitable for a hearing aid, the sooner you start using one, the better it’s likely to work. You benefit more from being fitted with a hearing aid while your hearing loss is relatively mild.
Reasons to confront your hearing loss
If your hearing seems to be declining, here are four good reasons to acknowledge that there may be a problem and to seek help:
- There is a huge amount of hearing loss help available, including digital hearing aids, which are much smaller and easier to control than previous versions. There are also gadgets to make your life easier, including extra-loud landlines and mobile phones, amplifiers and flashing doorbells, sonic boom and vibrating alarm clocks, and vibrating watches.
- It’s better to start wearing hearing aids sooner rather than later. This is because getting used to amplified sound is harder if you’ve already got used to a quieter world, which means your hearing aid will be less effective.
- You’ll have a better relationship with family and friends. An Action on Hearing Loss report found that early use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss improved their relationships with loved ones.
- You’re not alone. One person in seven in the UK is deaf or has hearing loss. That’s an estimated 9 million people in the UK. So, if you think you’re losing your hearing, take a free hearing test. Your GP can then refer you, if necessary, for further tests and advice.
Are you deaf or in denial?
Try this quiz from Deafness Research UK to see if your suspicions about your hearing loss are correct.
