Did you know that hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults? An estimated 9 million people in the UK experience some form of hearing loss. The RNID states that 47% of all adults between between the age of 60 and 80 years exhibit a degree of deafness, with this figure rising to 93% for the over 80's.

As hearing declines, so does your ability to effectively communicate. People who fail to understand what is being said may withdraw from social situations.  Failure to understand what is being said can lead to feelings of  frustration, discouragement and embarassment. People who wear hearing aids report a significant improvement in quality of life, personal relationships and mental well being.

Hearing loss can be treated. The key is early identification and intervention. In America, the National Council on the Ageing ran a study on the effects of untreated hearing loss. For mor information on the study, please click on the link below:

NCOA Study On Untreated Hearing Loss

For more information about hearing loss, visit the Royal National Institute of the Deaf website at http://www.rnid.org.uk.