Sound advice: why ear health matters – and how easy it is to check yours

When it comes to our health, hearing often ranks low on the priority list. Unlike eyesight, which we routinely check, many of us neglect our ears until problems become unavoidable. Yet good hearing is so important for everyone – and getting it checked is far easier than you might think.

“There’s still this idea that hearing devices are just for older people,” says Annie Morris, a hearing expert at Specsavers. “I hear it a lot – people saying, ‘My dad had hearing devices, but he was in his 70s.’ So they think, ‘I’m not there yet.’ But the reality is, hearing loss can happen at any age.”

The world has never been noisier. We’re constantly exposed to high volumes through headphones, traffic, crowded venues and workplaces. It’s no surprise that hearing health experts are seeing more young people.

“Your hearing starts to decline very gradually from about the age of 21,” Morris explains, “because the tiny hair cells in your inner ear don’t regenerate. You only get one set for life. We’re exposed to so much more sound than previous generations.”

For me, despite having a career that has involved constant exposure to loud music – two decades as a semi-professional musician touring the UK and US in punk bands, five years as a club DJ, plus a head almost permanently sandwiched between headphones since the early ’90s – I realised while researching this article that, at 44, I’d never had my hearing checked. I’d been putting it off, partly through fear of what I might learn.

“That’s incredibly common,” says Morris. “There is plenty of evidence to suggest the earlier you take action the easier it is for the brain to readjust to hearing the sounds and voices you may be missing. I once saw a lady who’d put it off for years. By the time she got fitted with hearing devices, she couldn’t get used to how loud everything felt. It had become her normal because her brain had stopped processing those sounds.”

I’ve recently developed mild tinnitus, causing permanent ringing in my ears. When I booked a hearing check at Specsavers’ Winterstoke Road branch in Bristol, I was braced for bad news. The process was straightforward. My audiologist first examined my ears with an otoscope – essentially a small torch with a magnifier – to check everything looked healthy, with no excessive wax and intact eardrums. After I discussed my lifestyle and concerns, admitting somewhat guiltily that I hadn’t always taken the best care of my hearing, I moved to the next part: sitting in a booth with headphones, pressing a button when I detected “warble tones” – little bursts of noise that sound like a Star Trek ray gun, played at different pitches and volumes.

A second test using a headset to bypass the outer and middle ear to test the inner ear helped determine where any hearing issues might be. The whole process was comfortable, reassuring, took less than an hour and was completely painless.

To my lasting astonishment (and the visible surprise of my audiologist, given what I’d told her), my results showed my hearing was fine. Despite years of musical adventures, my results were all towards the top of the graph. Totally normal for a man of my age. The audiologist did provide some advice for managing my tinnitus, but gave me a clean bill of health.

That peace of mind alone was worth the visit. But for those who do have hearing issues, early detection is crucial. The early telltale signs include turning up the TV volume, asking people to repeat themselves frequently, feeling exhausted after social events, or struggling in noisy environments. Even ear wax – something rarely discussed in polite society – can cause temporary hearing problems when it builds up.

“The earlier you take action the easier it is for the brain to readjust to hearing the sounds you may be missing.” — Annie Morris, Specsavers hearing expert

“Wax gets such a bad rep, but honestly, it’s completely normal. Your ears make it to clean themselves,” says Morris. “Some people just produce more than others, or it doesn’t clear as easily. That’s when it can build up and become hard or uncomfortable, or block sound getting in.”

For people experiencing homelessness, especially if they’re rough sleeping, access to hearing services can be particularly difficult. That’s why the partnership between Big Issue and Specsavers is so important. Alongside the existing eye care services, Big Issue vendors can now access free hearing checks, ear wax removal, and hearing devices if necessary.

“The biggest challenge someone sleeping rough might face with their hearing is access,” says Morris. “If someone’s in pain, or something doesn’t feel right but they can’t get to a service or don’t know where to go – that’s when issues can get worse. Hearing is also part of staying safe and aware of your surroundings.”

The stigma around hearing devices remains powerful. Most of us picture those chunky, visible NHS models from decades past. Yet modern hearing technology has transformed dramatically, with devices that are nearly invisible, connect to smartphones, and use AI to adapt to different environments.

Research by Specsavers shows that while most people have positive feelings after taking the first step of having a hearing check (with 79% reporting positive emotions) around half still experience negative feelings when told they need a hearing device.

While this partnership specifically supports Big Issue vendors, it’s worth remembering that Specsavers offers free hearing checks to everyone – taking the first step costs nothing. And that first step is often all it takes to provide peace of mind, with 84% of customers rating their hearing check experience as good or very good.

As someone who put off that first step for decades, I can confirm how quick, painless and reassuring the process is. The relief that comes from looking after your hearing health far outweighs the initial apprehension.

“If I could change one thing about hearing care in the UK,” Morris concludes, “it would be that everyone could access care when they need it – without waiting lists, without barriers.”

Through partnerships like the one between Specsavers and Big Issue, we’re getting closer to that goal.

Find out more about Specsavers audiology services at specsavers.co.uk/hearing