What's that dear?
A third of under-55s who took part in a recent online survey admitted having to pretend they have understood what someone has said when they weren't sure, with 38 per cent reporting that other people often have to repeat things for them.
In a bid to help people who may be worried about their hearing, RNID has launched a new online hearing check, designed to identify those with hearing loss and encourage them to take action. The hearing check assesses a person's ability to hear someone speaking when there’s background noise, similar to being in a crowded room.
Jackie Ballard, CEO for the charity, says: "This survey highlights that hearing loss is not just an issue for older people – it's a problem which affects many under 55s. By and large, noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented and by simply looking after your hearing you can help prolong it well into older age.
"If you think you’ve got a hearing problem, get it checked. On average, people take around 15 years to report hearing loss and in that time a person's quality of life is greatly reduced. Our message is simple, don’t wait years, change your life today and take our hearing check."
Other key findings from the survey include:
- 68% of under 55s reported having trouble hearing what’s been said in noisy places;
- Over one third of under 55s said that other people seem to mumble 'quite' or 'very often';
- 61% of under 55s say their family thinks they have trouble hearing.
