more holistic definition of hearing loss by The University of Manchester and University of Nottingham researchers has revealed that 18 million people are affected, 6 million higher than previously reported using a definition from the 1980s.
The new analysis, published in the International Journal of Audiology, re-evaluated existing prevalence data to include people with hearing loss who were previously not taken into account by official statistics.
The study was based on new population estimates from the most recent censuses: the 2021 Scottish census and the 2022 England and Wales Census. Because of an increase in the UK population, this resulted in an increase to 4.6 million.
However, the new data shows if people with a milder degree of hearing loss in both ears are included, the estimate is 12.3 million, or 1 in 4 of the population aged 18-80.
The number is greater still—18 million or 1 in 3— if those with a hearing loss in only one ear are also included.
Co-author Professor Kevin Munro, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator at The University of Manchester said: “These data more accurately reflect the number of adults in the UK who have impaired hearing that will cause listening difficulty, especially in background noise.
“Maintaining the hearing health of adults is a strong social responsibility. So it is important to acknowledge that millions of people’s experiences have effectively been dismissed by existing data which means they are effectively left out of the national conversation.”
Co-author NIHR Senior Investigator Professor Michael Akeroyd from the University of Nottingham said: “The way we define hearing loss puts us at odds with most other countries.
“By modernizing these numbers, we align with the latest international practice. We hope it will encourage more people to realise how common hearing loss is.”
