The importance of a hearing test

Published by Laura Bennett on April 16, 2024

There are 12 million people living with a hearing loss greater than 25dB, which is equivalent to one in five people. It is the second most common disability in the UK, and there are more people living with hearing loss than diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer put together! The number of people with hearing loss is also expected to rise to 14.2 million people by 2035.

As many things we can take our hearing for granted, especially if we don’t have any concerns. Hearing loss can be sudden, but it is often gradual, meaning that some people don’t even notice it at first. On average, people wait ten years before seeking treatment for hearing loss, and over 3 million people are thought to be living with untreated hearing loss in the UK

A hearing loss can develop at any stage of your life, which is why it’s important to undergo regular routine hearing tests. Many people feel that hearing loss only affects the elderly which is a common misconception and which can also lead to a stigma around taking action about hearing loss and wearing hearing aids.

Ignoring a potential hearing loss can impact our emotional well-being as well as our physical health and quality of life. It can also have a knock on effect with our family and friends. In this blog we explore the key reasons why hearing tests are so important and how they shouldn’t be scheduled and treated just the same as other routine health checks such as dentist and optician appointments.

Living with an undiagnosed hearing loss can make it difficult to keep up with conversations, making social interactions extremely difficult. This can lead to misunderstandings and social isolation. Routine hearing tests provide an opportunity to identify any changes in hearing which can be recognised and if needed, hearing aids can be used to restore the level of hearing.

Untreated hearing loss can also have a profound impact on cognitive function and mental health and a number of studies have shown a connection between hearing loss and the risk of dementia.(please see information in our previous Dementia blog here).

Research shows that the UK is the worst nation for looking after their hearing – 47% have never had a hearing test while the global average is 31%. These are very concerning statistics which highlight the importance of regular hearing health assessments.

A hearing test can determine the presence of a hearing loss and if so, whether it is mild, moderate, severe or profound and whether it affects one or both ears. The test will also identify the type of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. If you’re found to have a hearing loss, a hearing test can identify the pitches and frequencies that you might have difficulty hearing in order to tailor your specific treatment.

During your hearing assessment a thorough examination of the ear and auditory canal will be conducted. A hearing test can assess the function of the middle ear to determine any abnormalities such as fluid in the ear. An assessment of the central auditory system’s function will also be made, this is responsible for processing sound signals from the ears to the brain. Auditory Processing Disorder can affect how the brain interprets sounds.

Our hearing assessments include thorough, impartial, independent advice on the most suitable treatment option for you.

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