Hearing loss is the most widespread disability
on Earth - there are about 8 million people in
Britain with a hearing problem, 80 million throughout
Europe and an estimated 1 billion worldwide.
It is not, however, just a problem of the very old
- 19% of people in Britain in their fifties have a
hearing loss - that is almost one in five economically
active people. The figure rises to nearly 37% in the
sixties age group and over 60% for those in their
seventies.
There are now nearly 13.5 million people aged between
50 and 69 in this country, with at least 20% of them
in need of a hearing aid. Research shows that the
earlier people use an aid the less likely a disability
will become a handicap in later life.
Age related hearing loss is natural and people should
not - and need not - just put up with it. People with
a hearing loss have a far higher accident rate and
20% less social interaction - indeed some of working
age even lose their jobs.
The digital revolution in hearing technology brings
the real world back to the hard of hearing.
