RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

About this leaflet

This leaflet is for you if you think your hearing is not as good as it used to be.
You should read this leaflet if you want to know about:

You can download a portable document format (PDF) version of this leaflet or request a printed copy from the RNID Information Line.

Do any of these situations seem familiar?

  • Do other people seem to mumble rather than speak clearly to you?
  • Do people often have to repeat things for you before you understand what they say?
  • Do you have difficulty understanding what is being said in noisy places, such as pubs or restaurants, even though other people manage to have conversations?
  • When you are talking to people in a group, is it hard to keep up with the conversation?
  • Do you find it tiring to listen to conversations because you have to concentrate hard?
  • Do other people think your television or music is too loud but you cannot hear it properly if they turn it down?
  • Do you often have difficulty hearing on the telephone?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may have a hearing loss.

The thought of losing your hearing can be worrying.You might not want to think about it, but the sooner you do something, the better.

Did you know that one in seven people in the UK have some level of hearing loss? That’s nine million people – so you’re not alone.

What to do if you think are losing your hearing

First, call our telephone hearing check. By phoning 0845 600 55 55 (local rate), you can get an indication of whether you have a hearing loss. The five-minute check can be taken in the comfort of your home.

You listen to sets of three digits and identify them by pressing numbers on your telephone keypad. You will hear full instructions when you call. Because the test relies on changing the level of speech relative to noise, it is not affected by the fact that telephones can differ in volume.

There are three potential results from the sound check, indicating varying levels of hearing or hearing loss. Anyone taking the test will be told what they should do next. If it seems that there is some level of hearing loss, you will be advised to go to your GP to get a referral for a full hearing test.

Read more information about our telephone hearing check (external link, opens new browser window).

Remember, if you are at all worried about your ears or hearing, go to your GP.

When you go to your GP, describe your hearing loss and explain how you feel it affects your day-to-day life. Use the questions on page 3 to help you think of times when you have had difficulty hearing. You should also ask if something can be done to help you.

What will happen when you go to your GP?

Your GP will look in your ears using an instrument called an otoscope to check for obvious problems. It’s possible that your hearing loss is due to a build-up of earwax, a cold, or an infection. If so, your GP may be able to treat the cause.

They will also ask you questions about your hearing and family history. They may carry out simple tests with a tuning fork, or test your hearing in the surgery. Usually, they will refer you to the audiology clinic or ear, nose and throat (ENT) department of your local hospital to have hearing tests.

If you choose to, you can go to a private dispenser for a hearing test or to buy hearing aids. For more information, read our factsheet "Buying a hearing aid".

What will happen at the clinic or hospital?

In the clinic, you will be seen by an audiologist and sometimes by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. Before they test your hearing, you will be asked some questions about your hearing and they will look in your ears.

You will then have a hearing test lasting about 20 minutes. The audiologist will ask you to put on headphones and listen to sounds of differing frequencies (pitch) and levels of loudness. One ear is tested and then the other. You have to press a button each time you hear a sound. The audiologist will make them gradually quieter to find out the softest sounds you can hear.

If your hearing test shows that you have a hearing loss, you may have another test to give more information about your hearing problem.

For more information about the hearing test, read our leaflet "Getting a hearing aid".

What happens next?

If the audiologist recommends that you need hearing aids, it is a good idea to try them. You may find that you get on better with two – one for each ear. It takes time to get used to using them because you have to become familiar with the sounds you hear and with operating the controls, so the sooner you start the better. You can get free hearing aids on the NHS.

For more information, read our factsheets "Digital hearing aids"and "The NHS Hearing Aid Service".

Why people lose their hearing

There are several possible causes of permanent hearing loss:

  • age-related hearing loss. More than 50% of people over 60 have a hearing loss. This common condition is called presbycusis.
  • noise exposure. Prolonged and repeated exposure to loud noise - at work or at leisure - can damage hearing.
  • diseases of the ear. Infections of the middle ear or perforated eardrums can cause a hearing loss. So can serious infections like meningitis or measles.
  • genetics. About one in every thousand babies is born moderately to profoundly deaf. Some people are genetically more prone to lose their hearing in later life. 

If you want to know more about problems with hearing and how your ears work, read our leaflet "Ears and dizziness".

Learning to manage your hearing loss

Your hearing loss should never stop you from socialising or make you feel left out of conversations. There are many ways to help manage a hearing loss; a hearing aid is just of them.

You may find that you need to get used to your hearing aid and learn some new skills such as lipreading. Remember that all this will take time.

There is also a range of equipment that you might find useful if you have a hearing loss, whether you use a hearing aid or not.

  • You could try a telephone amplifier to use with your existing telephone or get a new telephone specially designed for hard of hearing people.
    • You can get equipment to let you know when your telephone, doorbell or alarm clock is ringing or to draw your attention to your smoke detector or baby alarm.
    • Listening equipment can help you hear the television, radio, stereo or conversation.
    • You can get the most out of your television, video or DVD player by using subtitles.

For more information about all of this, read our leaflet "Everyday solutions".