Millions of UK adults are avoiding having their hearing checked because they are too embarrassed to admit they may be going deaf. New research from Well Pharmacy has found that hearing loss tops the list of common age-related complaints that Brits feel the least comfortable talking about, despite around one in three UK adults suffering some form of hearing loss.
Nearly a third of UK adults (31%) told researchers they would not want to reveal they had a hearing issue, ahead of bladder weakness (30%) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (15%). In contrast, just one in 10 Brits (10%) would keep quiet about taking weight-loss medication like Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy.
Gen X most sheepish about hearing issues
It is middle-aged Brits who are the most sheepish, with more than one in three Gen X (35%) saying they would feel awkward admitting they needed help with their hearing. Gen X Brits – aged 45 to 61 – are also the most stubborn generation, with 31% the most likely to refuse to admit they have a problem.
Gen X are the most likely to double-down by pretending to hear someone rather than asking them to repeat themselves (25%), nodding or laughing when they have no idea what was said (29%) or feeling left out of the conversation (13%). For Gen X, the only condition deemed equally as embarrassing as hearing loss was bladder weakness (35%).
Far fewer Gen X would have any qualms confessing they have piled on the pounds in the last year (15%) or were taking weight-loss medicine like Ozempic or Wegovy (9%). Even discussing digestive issues like IBS with their nearest and dearest was deemed a preferred topic for around one in seven of that generation (14%).
Concerns about feeling old and declining
Nearly two-thirds of Gen X (65%) said their hesitancy to talk about hearing loss was because it “makes me feel old,” compared to an average six in 10 (59%) of the population. The biggest concern for Gen X was that having a hearing problem “feels like admitting I’m declining or vulnerable” (40%), while a quarter (26%) worry “people will treat me differently.”
Millennials come a close second when it comes to being bashful about their hearing (33%), while Baby Boomers seem resigned to it, raising the least concerns (23%). More than half of UK adults aged 55 and over live with hearing loss – including being deaf and suffering from tinnitus. That number rises to eight in ten (80%) for Brits aged 70 and above.
Around 2.4 million Brits live with a level of hearing loss that means they struggle to hear most conversations. Hearing loss can affect everyday communication, confidence, and quality of life, contributing to social isolation and withdrawal. With an aging population – around 13 million UK pensioners – medics are concerned about growing links between hearing loss and dementia.
Well Pharmacy rolls out hearing care services
Pensioners appear far less fussed about the issue, with only one in 10 Baby Boomers (12%) shy about hearing loss. Around a third of Gen X (32%) and Boomers (33%) have never had their hearing checked, according to the data.
Well Pharmacy is rolling out its hearing care services, delivered in partnership with Tympa Health, combining free ear and hearing checks with advice, private earwax removal and referral for specialist audiology support where needed. Earwax removal costs £50 for both ears, with no charge if removal is not needed. The service will be available across more than 300 Well Pharmacies.
The service forms part of its wider commitment to provide accessible, preventative healthcare, alongside its partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, which is strengthening dementia awareness and support across its community pharmacies through its Dementia Friends initiative and signposting for patients, families and carers.
Well Pharmacy’s deputy superintendent Wendy Lee said: “Hearing loss or struggles are nothing to be embarrassed about it, we really want to empower people to address any issues quickly.
“When people struggle to follow conversations, it can affect their confidence, relationships and sense of connection. By making checks and referrals more accessible, we hope to help people stay connected in everyday life and support their long-term wellbeing.”
“If you’ve found yourself asking people to repeat themselves or are pressing the volume button on the TV remote, it might be time to book a quick ear health check.
“There could be all manner of reasons you’re struggling to hear, from wax to an infection, and there is no shame in finding out, or indeed admitting you’re in need of help.
“And, with growing awareness of the links between hearing loss and dementia, the health of your ears and hearing is something to take seriously.”
“People can put off seeking help for years. Tympa Health has previously reported an average wait of eight years before people seek help for suspected hearing loss! We want to make that first step easier by offering checks in familiar, convenient community pharmacies.”
Well Hearingcare is now available in selected UK Well Pharmacy branches. You can book the free ear and hearing check online or find out more about the Well Pharmacy Hearingcare services at well.co.uk/hearingcare.
