It is estimated that over 18 million adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. However, as an invisible disability, it so often goes unnoticed, making it easier for those living with the condition to become isolated.
Adults living with hearing loss or tinnitus
Adults have severe hearing loss
Adults use hearing aids
Adults of working age have hearing loss in one or both ears
People with hearing loss can also experience tinnitus which affects 1 in 7 adults (around 7 million people). They may also have balance difficulties.
Hearing loss can be associated with other health conditions known as comorbidities. This means people living with hearing loss are at higher risk or more likely to experience these conditions compared to those with normal levels of hearing.
Common comorbidities include mental and physical conditions such as cognitive impairment, depression, visual impairment, diabetes, and an increase in falls.
Thank you to RNID for supplying prevalence statistics for this page. Learn more about their research into hearing loss on their website.
Causes of hearing loss can include earwax or a trauma, ageing or exposure to noise.
For most people, hearing changes very slowly over time. Here are some signs to look out for.
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