Kaye Adams on World Hearing Day

Finding it difficult to hear well is more common as we grow older, especially for those who have been exposed to sustained loud noise throughout their lifetimes. Hearing loss has increasingly been linked to the onset of physical health conditions such as dementia, but new research highlights the debilitating impact it can also have on our mental health and social wellbeing if left untreated.

To mark World Hearing Day 2023, new research from Boots Hearingcare reveals one in 10 Brits (11%) admit to having a suspected hearing loss but have not been for a test.   The research also shows that a third (30%) of people surveyed have seen loved ones become withdrawn from conversations or started to lack confidence in social settings (28%) when they are unable to hear well.

Hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of loneliness and social isolation and studies show that left untreated, it can have a negative impact on relationships with family and friends. Indeed, more than a quarter (27%) have noticed loved ones become more isolated as a result and a quarter (26%) have seen them become more angry and quicker to snap.

Aston spoke to TV presenter Kaye Adams.