Don’t ignore that hearing loss

ONE of the things I find most annoying about getting older is that my hearing is going. When I eat in pubs or restaurants, where there is a lot of music or shouting, I struggle to hear what is being said.

I recently had a hearing test which confirmed what I feared: I can no longer hear high frequency tones and I struggle to pick out specific sentences when there are lots of other sounds.

I shouldn’t be surprised because more than 40 per cent of people over the age of 50 have some degree of hearing loss; rising to 70 per cent of those over 70. Many people try to ignore the fact they are struggling to hear, which is a big mistake. There are serious consequences to ignoring hearing loss.

For instance, a 2020 report in the Lancet showed losing your hearing is one of the main risk factors for dementia. They think this may be because losing your hearing makes the brain shrink, or because it cuts you off from the world around you, and all the stimulation that provides. How can you tell if your hearing is bad? The Royal National Institute for Deaf People charity says these are some things to look out for, such as if you turn the TV up louder than your family wants (that’s me); you struggle to hear on the phone (not a problem I have yet); or if you often ask people to repeat what they say (all too true).

If you think your hearing is failing then talk to your GP, who may refer you for a hearing test or even a hearing aid.