Or rather many would if only they could. It is currently estimated by the RNID – a leading charity working for hearing impaired people - that 1 in 7 of the UK population suffers a measurable degree of hearing loss. And yet in these supposedly enlightened times it is still the major unrecognised disability.

Let’s examine some facts and attitudes, firstly the dictionary tells us:

Hear: perceive sound; listen to; be informed; sit in judgment – the first three meanings the 1s in every 7 would love to have. Unfortunately, all too often, it is the fourth definition that applies.

So what form can this judgment take and why is it done?

Have you heard jokes about someone not hearing something properly? Why do many people just shout loudly when asked politely to repeat what has been said? Would the same approach be adopted for someone with sight or mobility constraints? Apart from the day to day suffering caused by this attitude it also permeates the sub-conscious still to such a degree that a vast number of people who could benefit from a hearing aid won’t be seen wearing one. In these days of enlightenment where appreciation and understanding of other cultures, religions and tolerance of differing views are commonplace, isn’t it a shame that such a common handicap isn’t understood and helped more? 1 in 3 over the age of 70 have a degree of measurable hearing loss. You probably know one.

Is it simply ignorance or embarrassment?
To some degree it can be both. Very little is taught in educational establishments about hearing loss; not much is published in the media about the problems; and many people with hearing impairment [not total loss*] hide it away. In fact, much of the latest technology in hearing aids is geared towards making hearing aids virtually invisible when worn – is this necessarily a good thing?

It is quite common to see spectacles being “shown off” for their designer label, however they are still only a piece of metal holding some glass in front of the eyes - very Heath Robinson. Yet whom do you know that whips out their hearing aid at every opportunity declaring it to be more advanced than their walkman, mobile and plasma screen combined? But they could and maybe they should. It wasn’t that long ago that no-one mentioned breast or testicular cancer in polite company. Education can be a wonderful tool.

Employers today have a legal responsibility to provide both ease of access [for customers] and equal opportunities for employees with a whole range of disabilities – yet who of the general public considers hearing impairment as a disability? Many of the population can understand what it is like not to focus clearly on what one can see. But focus hearing? For that is what most hearing impaired people cannot do – hear clearly. Depending on the cause and degree of their loss the majority can hear sound and assorted parts of speech – but not all. Various elements of speech are delivered in a range of frequencies and if they are not received with equal input, the message becomes garbled. This often leads to the frequently ridiculed position of giving a totally different type of response to what was expected. An example oft quoted:

“It’s windy today isn’t it?”
“No, I think it’s Thursday.”
“Me too, I could murder a cup of tea.”

This is not to denigrate, nor to smirk, but to illustrate a common misunderstanding caused by this unseen disability. Another is at a family gathering when someone will ask:

“Does he still take sugar in his tea?”
without taking the time or trouble to ask the intended recipient directly. Many hearing impaired people could recognise those scenarios from direct experience.

But it is this inability to hear clearly, that can eventually lead to them avoiding conversation and ultimately social contact. A person who has a white stick or a walking frame is frequently treated with kindness, compassion and assistance. The individual with the hearing aid frequently just gets shouted at or even ignored. A poorly sighted client once told me,
“Not seeing, I lose contact with things, but not hearing means I lose contact with people”.

Don’t lose contact – make contact! If you have not done anything about impaired hearing then please, do something about it. Go to your GP and ask for a hearing test at the local NHS hospital’s audiology department. Depending on where you live you may have to wait some time. Alternatively look in you local Yellow Pages and ask a private Hearing Aid Audiologist for a test (generally the tests are free). Check that they are RHADs (Registered Hearing Aid Audiologist – no-one else is allowed to sell you hearing aids) and ideally have their own full time premises and FSHAA after their name as well (this shows that they are Fellows of their professional body and keep up to date with all the latest developments).

Going privately does not commit you to buying anything but they can at least demonstrate within a few days of contact (rather than months/years) what could be done to help. If a medical problem was discovered you would be informed and professionally referred to your GP. If you decide to proceed and purchase some form of hearing enhancement, please bear in mind it isn’t just the type of hearing aid you get that counts. Whether you have the basic behind the ear NHS analogue issue or the latest tiny elite digital in the ear instrument, it is how you adjust and adapt together with the level of support you receive from your chosen supplier that are usually the most significant elements in your rehabilitation to hearing.

Having the best running shoes or a Ferrari won’t automatically make you an Olympic title holder or Formula 1 champion, but with practice and perseverance the better the tools the better the result that can be achieved. This is just as relevant with hearing and hearing aids. It is also true that the longer you leave before you seek help it the harder this rehabilitation becomes.

The main thing to remember that having initiated action the hearing impaired person needs support; having the hearing test is just the first day of being rehabilitated back into a hearing world. It takes time, effort and perseverance to accommodate better hearing through the use of hearing aids and they won’t suit everyone. Some hearing problems require more, but at least the help and advice will be available if the initial enquiry is made. Will your local NHS hospital or private supplier provide this support? At least if you ask you will have started the ball rolling to possibly improving the quality of your life.

*Members of our population who, for whatever cause, suffer from virtually total loss of hearing do, in general, have a different approach. They have their own culture, converse avidly in sign language, debate many topics on such mediums as “Read Hear” on BBC2 Ceefax service [pp640-6], and frequently declare that they are proud to be deaf and do not wish to use hearing aids or other methods of artificial hearing.

A list of support bodies for the hearing impaired is shown elsewhere on this site.