Find you have to strain harder than normal to hear nowadays? You’re not alone – 42% of people over 50 years old have some sort of hearing loss, says Franki Oliver from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (rnid.org.uk). And when there’s extra background noise to contend with, the signs can become more apparent.
‘Most people’s hearing declines with age simply because of wear and tear,’ says Franki. ‘But everyone is different, so you might not notice your hearing deteriorating at first, but it’s important to look out for the signs so you can take action to protect it, which in turn can safeguard your mental health and quality of life.’
Despite it happening to most of