Pardon? I said it repeatedly on Saturday night, as did most of the people I was with. We were in a noisy tapas bar celebrating a friend’s 60th. Twenty-six middle-aged people straining to hear what their neighbours were saying, while donning reading specs to identify their food.
I have needed readers for nearly a decade, but not being able to hear in noisy environments is a relatively new phenomenon. Saturday’s party graphically demonstrated that I am far from alone, an experience backed by the latest statistics suggesting that at least nine million people in the UK live with some degree of hearing loss, with about half of the over-50s affected.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) — the ear equivalent of being unable to focus on things close to you (presbyopia) — is by far the most common type and happens to most of us at some stage. It is caused by wear and tear to the delicate cochlea in the inner ear and linked to a range of environmental and genetic factors.
The biggest factor is a lifetime of exposure to loud noises, and you don’t have to have worked in heavy industry, dug up roads with a pneumatic drill or played lead guitar for Guns N’ Roses to be affected. Busy restaurants, wind whistle from riding a motorbike, overly loud headphones and, according to research released this week, even London Underground trains can produce damaging levels of noise.
The more time you spend in a noisy environment, the lower the volume that is harmful, but decibel for decibel and hour for hour, some people seem more prone to age-related loss than others. White people are more likely to run into trouble than those from other ethnic groups, and presbycusis can sometimes run in families. Other risk factors include type 2 diabetes and smoking.
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By the time you notice you have a problem it is too late. Presbycusis can’t be reversed, and the only treatment is to wear a hearing aid, something I urge all my affected patients and friends to do because hearing loss isn’t just about not being able to catch what someone is saying. Hearing loss can have more serious consequences too, including social isolation and poor self-esteem. And if you have marked loss, research has shown that you are more likely to go on to develop cognitive impairment and dementia (aids may help here), as well as being at increased risk of depression.
So if you are struggling, please do something about it and have your hearing formally tested (see below). Classic symptoms include other members of the family saying that you shout on the phone, or have the TV and radio turned up too loud. The characteristic loss of high-frequency hearing means that you are likely to find it easier to hear a deeper voice than a higher one, particularly in noisy environments, where it can be impossible to keep up with a conversation.
Not all types of hearing loss are so innocent. Generally speaking, if you are middle-aged and have noticed your hearing gradually getting worse in both ears (sometimes with tinnitus: whistling or other noises) then it is likely to be age-related, but it pays to exclude other problems, such as impacted wax. And if the loss is sudden, or if it affects one side only (with or without one-sided tinnitus), then it should never be attributed to age-related loss. This always warrants further investigation to exclude more serious problems, which can range from issues with the tiny bones in the middle ear to tumours growing on the auditory nerve (acoustic neuroma).
On a brighter note I am pleased to report that, despite our visual and auditory impairments, the 60th was a roaring success. My wife, Ros, and I didn’t leave the party until 3.30am, at which time the birthday girl was still “giving it some” on the dancefloor. There’s life in the old dogs yet.
Sound check: where to have your ears tested
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● If you have any concerns about the nature of your hearing loss, your GP should always be your first port of call
● Arrangements vary slightly depending on where you live in the UK, but most areas have one-stop hearing aid clinics that will fit programmable digital aids free on the NHS
● Many high street opticians and pharmacists offer free hearing tests (although you will have to pay for aids, unless they have an arrangement with the NHS in your area)
Q&A
Q I take regular iron tablets because of anaemia caused by heavy periods. My GP has hopefully fixed the period problem (with the contraceptive implant Mirena), but my iron stores are so low that he thinks I will need to take supplements for at least another three months to replenish them. The problem is they upset my stomach and I can only take one or two every other day, rather than the three a day prescribed. Does that mean I will be on the iron for much longer?
A Maybe not. The latest research suggests that less may be more when it comes to iron supplements, and that taking a lower dose every other day can, paradoxically, mean that you absorb more of the iron and refill your stores quicker. More work needs to be done to confirm the implications, but it means you shouldn’t be too worried.
Other tips for reducing side-effects such as an upset stomach include taking supplements with orange juice (vitamin C boosts iron absorption) and avoiding tea or coffee (tannins inhibit absorption).
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However, as your doctor has done, the most important thing in iron deficiency is to identify the cause and correct that.
If you have a health problem, email drmarkporter@thetimes.co.uk
