For years, Brisbane grandmother Tena Tudehope suspected her hearing wasn’t what it once was.
Like many Australians, she put it down to getting older and carried on, and then came a moment she couldn’t ignore.
While supporting her daughter through cancer treatment, Tena realised she was struggling to hear doctors explain important medical information. It was the wake-up call that finally prompted her to book her first hearing test.
Her experience is far from unique as new research commissioned by hearing health provider Audika found 56 per cent of those surveyed have noticed problems with their hearing, while almost half reported struggling to hear conversations at least some of the time during the past year.
The findings suggest hearing difficulties may be affecting many older Australians long before they seek help.
More than half of the respondents also admitted they had sometimes, often or always avoided social events because they found it difficult to follow conversations.
For Tena, hearing loss was gradually chipping away at everyday moments and despite a family history of hearing loss, she resisted getting tested.
“I am an active carer for my grandchildren, and I used to struggle to hear their voices,” she said. “I knew I likely had hearing loss because both my parents experienced it, but I didn’t want to admit it, let alone have others know.”
That reluctance appears common as Audika’s survey found more than six in 10 respondents had either never had a hearing check or had not had one for more than three years.
Mona Hemsley, Audika’s Director of Audiology, said many people don’t realise how much hearing difficulties can affect their lives until relationships and social activities begin to suffer.
The survey found almost 79 per cent of respondents were concerned about the impact age-related hearing changes could have on their quality of life, while more than two-thirds worried about losing independence.
Australian Government data cited in the report shows hearing loss becomes increasingly common with age, affecting as many as one in two adults aged between 50 and 60 and more than 80 per cent of people over 80.
Looking back, Tena wishes she had acted sooner.
“I think people worry that people would notice straight away, but most people have no idea,” she said. “The technology now is so discreet, I just wish I’d known earlier, as it would have saved me years of putting off a test.”
Today, she says the biggest difference is being fully present with the people she loves.
“The biggest gift in my life is my family, and now I feel like I finally have them fully again.”
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.