Deterioration of hearing levels can creep up on us gradually over a long period of time, and the initial signs can be very subtle. That's why it's important to have your hearing checked - especially if you're over 60.
The facts
Hearing loss is much more common than most people imagine. Around 11 million people in the UK are affected - that's one in six of the population. It's estimated that by 2035, this figure will have increased to 15.6 million, or one out of every five people.
More than 40% of people over the age of 50 have some degree of hearing loss, rising to 71% of those over 70 and 93% of over-80s.
Left untreated, hearing loss often causes sufferers to withdraw from interaction with other people, leading to social isolation. The knock-on effects of this now form a whole distinct area of research. It's already well established that individuals with a hearing impairment are up to five times more likely to suffer from depression, and there's an increasing academic interest in hearing loss as a factor in the onset of dementia.