One in three people experience hearing loss, but most wait a decade before seeking help
Deafness and hearing health are becoming increasingly significant concerns in the UK, with one in three people now experiencing some form of hearing loss. Yet most of those affected wait, on average, 10 years before seeking treatment.
The consequences of this delay are mounting, with recent projections suggesting that by 2030, hearing loss will be one of the country’s top 10 health burdens, surpassing conditions such as diabetes and cataracts.
The wider cost of ignoring hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss has profound consequences, extending beyond inconvenience into mental health, employment prospects and overall quality of life. Research published in The Lancet shows hearing impairment is one of the top modifiable risk factors for dementia. At 7%, it outpaces other factors such as social isolation (5%) and physical inactivity (2%). Hearing difficulties also contribute to social withdrawal, particularly among older adults, compounding feelings of loneliness and decline.
Despite this, ear health remains marginalised in national health strategies. While eye tests and dental check-ups are commonplace, hearing checks are often neglected, even though early diagnosis can transform outcomes.
Young people are at risk too
Unsafe listening habits are also fuelling an emerging crisis among younger populations. The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion young people globally are at risk of permanent, preventable hearing damage. The call from experts is clear – hearing health should no longer be seen as an age-related issue, but as a lifelong concern requiring public health action.
Access to care remains a challenge
In the UK, access to hearing care can be patchy. Services can be costly or difficult to reach, particularly in under-served communities. Technology is starting to fill some of the gaps. Hearing screening apps make it easy for users to check their hearing at home. Similarly, remote fitting software—now standard with most modern digital hearing aids—allows audiologists to make real-time adjustments from a distance, offering greater flexibility and convenience.
This fits with the NHS’s long-term plan, which calls for more community-based healthcare and a greater role for digital services. If widely adopted, these tools could make routine hearing care as accessible as a trip to the optician. Private clinics, such as Hearology®, also perform a vital service in filling gaps in the public care provision.
Changing perceptions, changing outcomes
Experts say that hearing loss needs to be reframed as a condition to be actively monitored and managed, not something to be ignored until crisis point. Public health leaders are being urged to give hearing care the same level of importance as other essential services and to invest accordingly.
“Ear and hearing health shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought,” said Eva Opitz, a Clinical Audiologist at Hearology®. “We offer ear health consultations, hearing tests and hearing aid fittings – all of which can have a transformative impact when issues are caught early. Regular checks can prevent small problems from becoming serious ones, such as ear infections or general cognitive decline.”
References
- New analysis reveals 18 million people have hearing loss – Shows that one in three people in the UK are affected by hearing loss.
- Hearing Loss Statistics – Outlines the scale and projected rise of hearing loss in the UK by 2035.
- Noise-induced hearing loss in Great Britain – Statistics on occupational hearing loss.
- Hearing impairment and risk of dementia in The HUNT Study – Hearing loss as a leading risk factor for dementia.
