Brits are waiting an average of 10 years too long before seeking help for hearing loss, new data has revealed. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People, a charity supporting over 18 million deaf people in the UK, said many people choose to adapt to changes before the signs become impossible to ignore.
Statistics show that only 6% of UK adults without diagnosed hearing loss took a hearing check in the last 12 months. While many adults rely on other cues, such as enlarging phone text and lip-reading, to compensate, delaying support can affect confidence and safety.
Expert warns of subtle signs
Clare Snelling, audiologist, director and co-owner of The Hearing Centres, warned: "By the time somebody recognises the pattern, they may have spent years looking towards speakers, checking missed alerts or relying on family members to identify sounds. Each sign is subtle, but together they can reveal a change in hearing."
She added: "People rarely ignore hearing difficulties deliberately. They explain each sign away: the phone was not loud enough, they were too far from the doorbell, or somebody was not speaking clearly. Many also assume hearing loss only affects older people. Over time, these explanations can delay support until communication, confidence or safety are affected."
If familiar sounds are repeatedly missed, one ear seems clearer, speech is less distinct or family members notice a change, arrange a hearing assessment rather than waiting until the difficulty is impossible to ignore.
"A hearing check can provide reassurance or identify a change before somebody spends years adapting around it. Like an eye test or dental check-up, earlier assessment allows appropriate support to be provided sooner if needed," she said.
Seven signs often dismissed
Here are seven signs that people with hearing problems often dismiss, according to the expert.
You miss your name being called from another room - Ms Snelling said: "A voice can be easy to follow face-to-face in a quiet room, but much harder from the kitchen, hallway or garden. If you increasingly miss your name being called unless you can see the speaker, do not assume you are simply distracted."
You no longer notice birdsong, rainfall or leaves rustling - Ms Snelling said: "Quiet, high-pitched environmental sounds are often among the details people stop noticing first. Someone may not realise they have disappeared from daily life until another person points them out."
You miss the doorbell, phone or a knock at the door - Ms Snelling said: "People often blame the device, ringtone or room they were in. If different alerts are being missed more frequently, hearing may be contributing."
You do not hear cyclists or approaching vehicles as clearly - Ms Snelling said: "Bicycle bells and quieter vehicles can be easy to miss in busy surroundings. If others repeatedly react before you do, pay attention because this may also affect safety."
You mishear words that sound similar - Ms Snelling said: "Hearing loss can affect clarity before overall loudness. You may hear that somebody has spoken but confuse similar words because softer speech sounds are no longer as distinct."
You find it difficult to hear the television clearly - Ms Snelling said: "The television can be difficult to hear clearly despite increasing the volume which eventually distorts the sound making it either too loud or just unclear. Using subtitles to confirm that's being said then becomes essential to watch television with ease."
You stop noticing household sounds others hear clearly - Ms Snelling said: "Timers, appliance beeps, running water or the click of a lock can gradually become easier to miss. If other people regularly notice familiar household sounds before you do, that can add to the wider pattern of a change in hearing."
