Facts and statements on health

Dementia

The 2020 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention identified hearing loss as the largest potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia [1].
Hearing loss in mid-life accounts for up to 8.2% of all dementia cases.
Previous research shows that having hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia by up to five times, but evidence suggests hearing aids may reduce the risk of cognitive decline [2].

Access to Audiology

38% of people who think they may have a hearing loss have not spoken to a professional about it [3].
An estimated 7 million adults could benefit from hearing aids but only about 2 million people use them [4].
People who visit their GP about their hearing loss are not always referred on to see an ear or hearing specialist [5].

Hearing check

Evidence suggests that people delay seeking help for their hearing loss [6].
A recent survey (2022) from the RNID has shown that only 6% of UK individuals, who have not been diagnosed with hearing loss, took a hearing check in the last 12 months. Despite this lack of action, a staggering 98% of individuals said that their hearing was important to them.
A recent survey (2022) from the RNID has shown that people regularly have other health checks including a dental check-up (53%), an eye test (46%), or having their blood pressure checked (44%) [7].

Health inequalities

People who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus are more likely to experience health inequalities.
Socioeconomic inequalities, education level and occupation may affect the likelihood of developing hearing loss [8].
People who are deaf or have hearing loss are more likely to have multiple medical conditions and overall worse health status compared to those without hearing loss [9].
There is a clear regional disparity in the prevalence of hearing loss, showing hearing health inequality between the North and South of England [10].

Mental health

People who are deaf or have hearing loss are twice as likely to experience mental health problems compared to people without hearing loss [11].
Evidence shows that the rate of depression amongst deaf BSL users is double that of the general population [12].

Ear wax

Our 2022 survey about NHS ear wax removal services found that:

66% of respondents had been told ear wax removal was no longer available on the NHS.
more than a quarter of respondents could not afford to get their ear wax removed privately.
71% of respondents resorted to attempting to remove ear wax themselves, although two thirds did not feel confident doing this.
people described using dangerous methods to remove their ear wax, including hair clips, paper clips, toothpicks, cotton buds and Hopi ear candles.
after trying to remove ear wax themselves, only 20% of respondents said their problems went away [13].

Sources

[1] Read the Lancet Commission’s report on dementia prevention, intervention, and care.

[2] (2) Read a review on cognitive decline and dementia.

[2] (3) Read this report on whether hearing aids can reduce cognitive decline.

[3] Read this audiology report on primary and secondary care for hearing loss.

[4] (1) Our hearing loss population estimates and hearing loss population projections are calculated using the most robust data available on the prevalence of hearing loss for different age groups, combined with the latest available population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read the report on hearing in adults from the MRC National Study of Hearing.

[4] (2) The estimate 2 million people using hearing aids is based on EuroTrak 2022 UK Survey data and Adoption. Visit the EuroTrak website.

[5] (1) Read a study on delays between candidates being given hearing aids and their adoption of the hearing aids.

[5] (2) Read this audiology report on primary and secondary care for hearing loss.

[5] (3) Anecdotal evidence taken from RNID’s Contact Centre and Health Programme.

[6] (1) Read a study on delays between candidates being given hearing aids and their adoption of the hearing aids.

[6] (2) Find out more about the impact and benefits of hearing checks.

[6] (3) Read this audiology report on primary and secondary care for hearing loss.

[7] Read RNID’s news article on the risks of not taking a hearing check.

[8] Read a study on the links between socioeconomic inequality and hearing health.

[9] Find out more in this study on the links between hearing loss and other medical conditions.

[12] Read a comparison on the health of the UK deaf signing community and general population.

[13] Read RNID’s report on the impact of cutting NHS ear wax removal services (PDF, 158KB).

Facts and statements on inclusion

For information on access to services, interpreter provision and subtitles.

Facts and statements on employment

For information on how deafness and hearing loss impact access to work, experiences at work, economic impact and the benefits of employing people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Facts and statements on medical research

RNID is the only charity in the UK dedicated to funding hearing research. Find out more about how much RNID have spent on research, our key achievements, and about the Hearing Therapeutics Initiative.