Hearing loss often develops gradually, making early signs easy to miss. Experts are now urging the public to recognise these subtle indicators, with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) promoting its free online hearing check after a survey revealed widespread undiagnosed issues.
The poll of 1,810 people without a prior diagnosis found nearly half (47 per cent) would struggle to hear leaves rustling, while 46 per cent had difficulty hearing their name from another room, and 43 per cent could not clearly hear nearby rainfall. Additionally, 42 per cent could not hear a cyclist's bell, 40 per cent a knock at the door, and 39 per cent a phone ringing in another room.
Crystal Rolfe, audiologist and director of health at RNID, said: “Struggling to hear certain sounds and frequencies in your daily life could be an indication of hearing loss. The sooner you recognise the signs and take action, the better.”
Audiologist Ryan Reid of The Hearing Clinic UK highlighted six signs not to ignore: turning up the TV volume excessively; frequently asking people to repeat themselves; accusing others of mumbling; struggling in noisy environments like cafes; mishearing words (e.g., “three” as “free”); and withdrawing from social situations to avoid auditory challenges.
Reid emphasised that hearing loss affecting high frequencies blurs consonants such as S, F, T, and SH, making speech sound unclear. He added that it is never too early to have a hearing test.
