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Hearing impairment

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

Hearing problems are widespread and can lead to social isolation and communication difficulties which can make basic tasks, such as shopping, extremely difficult. In 1992, 1995 and 1998 GHS respondents were asked whether they had any difficulties with hearing and, if so a further set of questions about use of aids followed.

Summary of main findings from 1998 GHS

  • 8% of men and 5% of women aged 16-44 said they had hearing difficulties. The corresponding proportions among the 75 and over age group were 53% and 41%;
  • there has been an increase in the proportion of men aged 45 and over reporting hearing difficulties since 1979;
  • there has been little change in the prevalence of hearing difficulties among women and younger men since 1979;
  • the proportion of men aged 45-64 who reported a hearing difficulty, but did not use an aid rose from 17% in 1979 to 22% in 1998. Most of this increase occurred between 1992 and 1995;
  • among men aged 75 and over, the likelihood of wearing a hearing aid increased from 12% in 1979 to 23% in 1998.
  • Using a hearing aid did not necessarily overcome all hearing problems; among the 3% of respondents using an aid, 59% said they still had hearing difficulties even when wearing an aid.

In 1998, 166 respondents (1%) said they had an aid, but did not use it. Of this group, 43% said the aid did not help their hearing, while 27% found it awkward, uncomfortable or badly fitting;

  • just over one in five aids were purchased privately. Among the 99 respondents who had bought an aid privately, 65% said this was because there was a better choice, 28% said it was not available on the NHS, and 15% could obtain the aid more quickly.

Summary of main findings from 1995 GHS

  • only 7% of men and 6% of women aged 16-44 reported any hearing difficulty but this rose to 49% of men and 41% of women aged 75 or over. In this latter age group nearly one in five had a hearing aid;
  • between 1979 and 1995 there has been an increase in the proportion of men aged 45 and over reporting a hearing difficulty, while for younger men and women of all ages there has been little change;
  • the proportion of men aged between 45 and 74 who reported a hearing difficulty but no hearing aid was higher in 1995 than in 1979 - 21% of men aged 45 to 64 and 30% of those aged 65 to 74 reported such a difficulty in 1995, compared with 17% and 24% respectively in 1979. Most of this increase occurred between 1992 and 1995;
  • amongst people aged 75 or over there was an increase in the proportion with a hearing aid during this period, from 12% in 1979 to 18% in 1992, but since 1992 the proportion with a hearing aid has remained unchanged.

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