Hearing loss can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and can be difficult to adjust to. Because it can affect conversations and social situations, people who are deaf or suffer from hearing loss may experience feelings of isolation or helplessness.
Therefore, if you or someone you love is deaf or has hearing loss, it can be useful to understand what this really means and what resources are available to minimise its effect on daily life.
In this article, we’ll cover what can cause hearing loss, where to seek guidance and support, and how to cope with the emotional impact of hearing loss.
What causes hearing loss?
Hearing loss is fairly common and affects around 12 million adults in the UK. It’s usually a gradual process that comes with age, sometimes making it more difficult to pinpoint where the issues began.
On the other hand, some people are born deaf and have had to adjust to this their whole lives. Deafness at birth is known as congenital hearing loss, while hearing loss after birth is known as acquired hearing loss.
There are various causes of hearing loss, including illness, genetic defects, injury, and ageing.
Acquired hearing loss that occurs gradually with ageing is common and can be caused by various factors such as exposure to loud noises, eardrum trauma, injury, or disease.
You can read more about the causes of hearing loss here on the NHS website.
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How can I arrange a hearing test?
Symptoms of hearing loss can include finding it difficult to keep up with conversations, having to ask people to repeat themselves, and listening to music or watching TV at a higher volume than others.
If you suspect that you may be suffering from hearing loss, it’s worth booking a hearing test. You can do this by booking an appointment with your GP, who can refer you to an audiologist, or you can arrange a free hearing test at some pharmacies or hearing centres, which is probably the quicker option.
Hearing tests are run by hearing specialists (audioologists) and often take 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the tests you have. It will usually include a check of your general ear health and a hearing screen, where you’ll listen to sounds through headphones and be asked to respond.
If you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, the audiologist will talk to you about your next steps and the best way to manage it. It’s generally recommended that you book hearing tests every one to two years, or sooner if you spot any changes.
Alongside hearing tests, you can also read more about other important health checks that you might like to consider in our article: 11 important health checks for over 50s.
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If you’d like to book a private hearing test, The Hearing Care Partnership offers a free full hearing assessment, followed up with personalised advice tailored to your needs. You can book using the button below.
I have hearing loss – who can I speak to about my options?
While you can’t reverse most types of hearing loss, there are steps you can take to try to improve your hearing. The more you know about hearing loss, the more empowered you’ll hopefully feel, and the easier it’ll be to adjust your life around it.
Arranging to speak to a licensed audiologist or ear, nose, and throat specialist can be useful because they’ll be able to advise you on possible options.
For example, they may recommend treatments such as hearing aids or cochlear implants (small electronic devices that can help improve your sense of sound). If your hearing loss is more severe, they may also encourage you to consider communication alternatives such as sign language.
They may also direct you to local supportive communities. For example, Hearing Link support groups host activities such as lipreading classes and social events to unite people with hearing problems. Your doctor or specialist will also be able to advise you on what medical checkups you’ll need in the future, and how often.
You can read more about audiology services and appointments on this NHS page.
What steps can I take to make communication with hearing loss easier?
Getting used to hearing loss isn’t an overnight process, and it can take a while to adapt. In some cases, people may feel increasingly isolated because social situations become more difficult.
If you or someone you know is struggling with hearing loss, the steps below might help communication feel easier.
If you’re struggling with hearing loss…
Try to control background noise that can make it more difficult to hear, for example, the television or washing machine.
Explain to the people you’re socialising with what they could do to help make communication easier for you.
If you don’t hear what someone says the first time, take a deep breath and ask if they could repeat it.
If you’re struggling to understand what people are saying, ask them if they’d be happy to write it down for you.
When possible, sit next to a friend or family member who understands your hearing loss the most.
Take steps to ease any stress or anxiety you may feel in social situations. Remember that hearing loss doesn’t have to control your life, and it doesn’t change who you are.
If you know someone who’s struggling with hearing loss…
Make an effort to say the person’s name before you start speaking to them, to make it clear you’d like to talk.
Speak slowly and clearly rather than raising your voice (as this can actually distort how your words sound, and make it harder to understand what you’re saying).
Make sure that you face towards the person when you’re speaking to them, so they can pick up on mouth movements and gestures.
If possible, try to talk in quiet, calm, and well-lit areas.
Repeat and rephrase calmly if necessary.
Group conversations are sometimes difficult for people with hearing loss, so it can be helpful to have just one person speak at a time when possible.
Avoid using phrases such as “I’ll tell you later” if a deaf person is unable to hear you. If need be, consider writing it down for them.
How can I avoid hiding or bottling up my feelings about my hearing loss?
Whether you’ve gradually been losing your hearing or you’ve been deaf for a while, hearing loss can be emotional, and it’s completely normal to experience grief and loss as you begin to adapt.
In many ways, hearing loss is an invisible disability – unlike struggling with mobility, for example – which can sometimes make it more difficult for people to understand how it might be affecting you.
For instance, others might not initially pick up that you’re struggling to communicate at an event, which, in turn, might make you feel even more frustrated or misunderstood.
Similarly, it can also be difficult for people to watch a loved one struggle with hearing loss, as they may feel helpless and unsure how to offer support. There’s more information about how to cope with a loved one’s hearing loss here on Hidden Hearing’s website.
Therefore, it’s important not to bottle up your feelings to prevent them from overwhelming you. Sharing how you feel with somebody else won’t only help take some of the weight off your shoulders, but it’ll also allow people around you to understand how they can help you.
If you have a trusted family member or friend, consider sitting down with them and sharing how you feel. Chances are, they’ll want to do everything they can to help you, and it’ll allow you to communicate what could make things easier for you.
Even if it’s just to get certain thoughts or emotions off your chest, expressing yourself can be a huge relief.
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your feelings with a family member or friend, you might be interested in joining a support group near you, such as the local support services offered by RNID.
This will allow you to connect with others who also struggle with hearing loss, hopefully reminding you that you’re not alone, and allow you to seek advice on useful coping mechanisms.
Other helpful resources for coping with hearing loss
AbilityNet is a registered charity in England and Wales that works to improve the lives of disabled people by helping them use digital technology at home, work, or in education.
For example, their My Computer My Way programme offers a step-by-step guide for individual adjustments that can be made to electronic devices such as laptops or phones to make them easier to use.
ATLA (Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults) is a registered charity that aims to create a world where lipreading classes are available to everyone. Individual or group classes are designed to help people manage their hearing loss. You can find out more and search online or in-person classes here.
Hearing Link is a UK-wide charity that helps people adapt to the practical and emotional challenges of hearing loss. You can read more about the services they offer, such as webinars and hearing support sessions, here.
For further help and information on coping with hearing loss, you might like to browse this list of useful UK resources from Hearing Link.
Hear life in full colour. Book a FREE hearing test!
The Hearing Care Partnership offer FREE full hearing tests to help you stay connected to everyday moments.
With 400+ clinics across the UK, personalised care, discreet hearing aids, support for tinnitus and gentle ear wax removal, book your free test today.
Final thoughts…
Over half the UK population aged 55+ has some form of hearing loss. But often, people may be unsure when, where, and how to ask for help. For example, it may be difficult for them to manage and accept when they’re struggling with hearing loss, especially when facing it for the first time.
But to limit the daily impact of hearing loss, there are small practical steps you can take to make it a little easier. For example, ear specialists and doctors can advise you on the best medical options, support groups can help you connect with others struggling with hearing loss, and friends and family can help you identify ways to make communication easier.
Most importantly, always remember that you’re not alone and you don’t have to suffer in silence.
If you struggle with hearing loss, what helps you cope with it? Or if your loved one has hearing loss, how do you help to support them? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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Hear life in full colour. Book a FREE hearing test!
The Hearing Care Partnership offer FREE full hearing tests to help you stay connected to everyday moments.
With 400+ clinics across the UK, personalised care, discreet hearing aids, support for tinnitus and gentle ear wax removal, book your free test today.
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