Hearing loss is one of the most common health changes after 50, and one of the least checked. RNID says more than half of people aged 55 and over have some hearing loss, rising to almost 80% of over-70s — yet it can take up to ten years for people to get tested.
It creeps in gradually, so family and colleagues usually notice first: the louder television, the repeated question, the avoided phone call.
The 2024 Lancet Commission named hearing loss as one of the largest modifiable risk factors for dementia, and found stronger evidence that treating it may reduce the risk.
Simple steps:
- Take RNID’s free three-minute online hearing check.
- Book a free hearing test at a high-street provider.
- Ask your GP about an NHS referral — NHS tests and hearing aids are free.
- Protect your ears from loud noise.
Not medical advice — speak to your GP or an audiologist.
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Six short reads each week on tax, Wills, family wealth and running a business, from John Ireland. Since 1996, three decades of protecting families.