Over 3.5 Million In Britain Do Not Seek Help For Hearing Loss
On behalf of RNID, Ipsos Social Research Institute conducted research among the general public in Great Britain to measure experience of hearing loss and explore why some people with hearing difficulties do not seek specialist help.
One in five (21%) adults aged 15+ and two in five (38%) adults aged 55+ say they have problems with their hearing at least sometimes, yet over a third of adults aged 15+ with hearing difficulties have not consulted a GP or hearing specialist. Many of those with hearing problems who have not consulted their GP or a hearing specialist feel their hearing "is not bad enough" to ask for help (70%).
When asked about why people with hearing difficulties might not discuss their problem with others or have a hearing test, the public in general are most likely to suggest they are "embarrassed about not being able to hear" (46%) or they "don't think their hearing is bad enough to ask for help" (36%).
Technical Details
- The MORI Social Research Institute interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,048 adults aged 15+ across GB.
- Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in home, using CAPI, as part of the MORI Omnibus.
- Fieldwork was conducted between 17-22 November 2005.
- Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated.
- Results have been weighted to reflect the known national profile of adults aged 15+ in Great Britain.
- An asterisk (*) denotes a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero.
- Where figures do not add up to 100, this is due to multiple coding or computer rounding.
- The research was carried out for RNID.
Q1 Do you ever have any problems with your hearing? By "problems with your hearing" I mean, for example, difficulty following what people are saying or difficulty hearing the television?
| 160 | % |
|---|---|
| Yes | 14 |
| Sometimes | 8 |
| No | 78 |
| Don't know | * |
| Refused | * |
Q2 Looking at this list, please tell me which, if any, of the following people you have ever discussed your hearing difficulties with. Base: All who have hearing difficulties (460)
| 160 | % |
|---|---|
| GP/Doctor | 57 |
| Family | 54 |
| Friends | 34 |
| Ear, nose and throat specialist/ hearing specialist | 30 |
| Work colleagues | 17 |
| Private hearing aid dispenser | 8 |
| Confidential helpline | * |
| Other | 3 |
| None of these | 13 |
| Don't know | * |
Q3 Looking at this list, which, if any, of the following reasons apply as to why you have not consulted your GP or a hearing specialist about your hearing difficulties. Base: All who have not discussed their hearing problem with a hearing specialist/GP (169)
| 160 | % |
|---|---|
| I don't think my hearing is bad enough to ask for help | 70 |
| I don't want to waste anyone's time | 15 |
| I don't think anything can be done to help me | 8 |
| I'm worried I might have to wear a hearing aid, and I don't want to | 5 |
| I am embarrassed about not being able to hear | 5 |
| I am worried people will think I am getting old if I wear a hearing aid | 5 |
| I'm worried people will think I'm less attractive if I wear a hearing aid | 2 |
| I am worried other people will look at me and may treat me differently if I wear a hearing aid | 2 |
| I think my problem won't be taken seriously | 1 |
| I am worried about keeping my job if I am diagnosed as hard of hearing | - |
| Other | 7 |
| None of these | 5 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q4 Using this list, please tell me which, if any, of the following you think are the main two or three reasons why people in general don't discuss their hearing difficulties with others or have a hearing test?
| 160 | % |
|---|---|
| They are embarrassed about not being able to hear | 46 |
| They don't think their hearing is bad enough to ask for help | 36 |
| They are worried they might have to wear a hearing aid, and don't want to | 29 |
| They are worried people will think they are getting old if they wear a hearing aid | 27 |
| They are worried other people will look at them and may treat them differently if they wear a hearing aid | 20 |
| They are worried about keeping their job if diagnosed as hard of hearing | 14 |
| They don't want to waste anyone's time | 13 |
| They are worried people will think they are less attractive if they wear a hearing aid | 12 |
| They don't think anything can be done to help them | 10 |
| They think their problem won't be taken seriously | 9 |
| Other | 1 |
| Don't know | 9 |
