So, Trump has been in office for 100 days (at the time of writing this article) and I have been in my office at Sense Progress Ltd 170 days! I too have reflected on what I have achieved and learned over this period of time. There have been many ups and downs with starting my own business of course; a few successes, many ‘ghosts’, some trials and tribulations of navigating social media, umpteen tech problems (but who can live without it)? And lots and lots and lots of networking!
My thoughts are particularly poignant as we enter Deaf Awareness Week (5th to 11th May) because, following numerous conversations in the last 5 ½ months, I am struck by how generally speaking, as a nation, we are very unaware of ear health and hearing loss.
No-one thinks twice about going to an optician for an eye check and wearing corrective glasses if needed. In fact, when we see someone wearing glasses, we associate them with intelligence and it is regarded as a good thing. Those who prefer to be spec-free have the option of contact lenses – either way the individual made a choice to correct their vision.
Ears on the other hand….. I wonder how many people reading this have had a hearing and ear check since they were at school? Or how many people need the TV or radio or music on louder now than before and find it harder to hear in a crowded space or outside in all that traffic? Are we struggling to hear because of noise pollution in modern world? Perhaps, a little. But more likely, if there has been no illness or trauma, it’s wear and tear of the ears.
We hear different frequencies thanks to hair cells in our inner ear and like every part of our bodies over time those hair cells wear down. Hair cells in the ear don’t regenerate, which means that as we age every one of us will experience some natural decline in our hearing.
Yet, inexplicably to me, there is huge stigma with hearing loss – wearing hearing aids doesn’t have the positive connotations that wearing glasses has. Unfortunately for many, it represents the demise of independence. According to some surveys people with onset hearing loss fear what others might think, particularly at work or in social situations where they don’t want to appear incompetent or unsociable.
There is still a belief that hearing aids are clunky, unsightly and whistle a lot even though that’s no longer the case and hasn’t been for years. We rarely see people on TV or in film wearing hearing aids in the same way as we see people wearing glasses and with a lack of role models to learn from we are oblivious to the importance of our own ear health.
We are learning more than ever about the profound impact ear health has on our lives. A growing body of scientific evidence highlights the significant effects that hearing loss can have on both our mental and physical wellbeing.
In the UK, around one in three adults experience some degree of hearing loss and as a result, many are at increased risk of isolation and loneliness due to reduced communication. This can in turn double the likelihood of developing depression or other mental health challenges compared to those with normal hearing.
In addition, research has identified strong links between hearing loss and serious health conditions such as dementia, heart disease, and diabetes. As our understanding continues to grow, it is more important than ever to prioritise ear health in the same way we routinely look after our eyesight.
As I look ahead to my next 170 days, I find myself asking: how do we make hearing loss more acceptable in society?
Raising awareness, providing education, and role modelling must surely be strong contenders to breaking down the stigma. Given how prevalent hearing loss is, it’s highly likely that someone you know struggles to hear properly — so we can all have a role to play in making the world more accessible and inclusive of people with hearing loss enabling those affected to remain independent and involved in everyday life.
If you’d like to learn more about how you—or your organisation—can be more accessible and inclusive for people with hearing loss, please get in touch at hello@senseprogress.com or visit www.senseprogress.com.
And don’t forget to look after yourself too! Why not make Deaf Awareness Week 2025 the week you decide to look after your own ear health.
#connect #include #empower #HearingHealth #Wellbeing #HearingAwareness