Brits have been warned over skipping hearing tests, with experts at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) explaining that keeping on top of checks could reduce the risk of dementia.
New research has revealed that only six percent of Brits took a hearing test last year, despite people keeping on top of other checks such as dental checks, eye tests and blood pressure monitoring.
For example, 53 percent of Brits had a dental check up in 2022, while 46 percent had an eye test and 44 percent had their blood pressure checked.
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Despite this, 98 percent of individuals said that their hearing was important to them.
RNID has warned that neglecting hearing tests could be risking people's health.
Crystal Rolfe, associate director for health at RNID, said: “Everyone should be valuing and protecting their hearing as much as they value and protect their teeth, eyes or blood pressure, and this can all start with a simple hearing check.
“If over the festive season or whilst attending a New Year’s Eve party, you found yourself, or saw your partner or parents asking people to repeat themselves or struggling to follow a conversation, please take the first step and check your hearing.
“We found that 73 percent of people said they would consider making a health-related resolution in the new year which they could fulfil in three minutes.
"This January, as well as promising to sign up to a gym, read a book a month or give up chocolate, pledge to take the RNID hearing check and tick off your first New Year’s resolution straight away.”
Over on the RNID website, the charity explains how hearing loss and dementia can be linked.
They explain that there is strong evidence to indicate that mild hearing loss doubles the risk of developing dementia, while moderate hearing loss can triple the risk, and severe hearing loss can increase it by five times.
"An international review in medical journal The Lancet, published in 2017, suggested that hearing loss is one of nine key risk factors for dementia that are possibly modifiable (factors that can be changed to reduce dementia risk)," they explain.
"The review suggested that one in three cases of dementia could be prevented if more people looked after their health throughout their lives.
"Unaddressed hearing loss in mid-life was predicted to be the highest potentially modifiable risk factor for developing dementia."
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Lucy Devine