23/09/2024
Dear Editor,
Hearing aids can bring life-changing benefits for millions of people with hearing loss. But new research from RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, has revealed the depth of stigma that surrounds them in UK society.
Nearly half (47%) of the general public said hearing aids haven’t been accepted by society in the way that glasses have, and 11% said they would even prefer to live with hearing loss than wear hearing aids. Shockingly, our research found that more than one in three people (34%) would try to hide hearing aids if they needed them.
At RNID, we want to challenge these damaging perceptions. Hearing aids in the UK – whether accessed through the NHS or bought privately – are all digital. They contain advanced technology to make listening easier, allowing you to enjoy everyday sounds, keep up with conversations, and even stream phone calls or podcasts directly to your ears through Bluetooth.
Hearing aids benefit people of all ages and backgrounds, and research shows that they have a massive positive impact on your health and wellbeing – including potentially reducing the risk of dementia in later life. It’s essential that we leave negative attitudes behind and celebrate hearing aids for the amazing, life changing devices they are for millions of people in the UK.
Yours sincerely,
Franki Oliver, Audiology Manager at RNID
