To coincide with Dementia Action Week (May 20 - 26), Specsavers Ayr is raising awareness of the importance of getting your hearing checked after it discovered hearing loss has been linked to dementia.
The store has several qualified Dementia Friends among its team, who have completed a training course to professionally care for the eye health and hear care of customers who have the condition.
Many adults don’t get their hearing checked in the UK, even when they think there might be something wrong, as they worry about wearing hearing aids or seeming old. While this decision can affect their quality of life and lead to social isolation, research shows that the price could actually be far higher and with wider health implication, as hearing loss has been linked to dementia.
There is evidence that suggests people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia. If you have a moderate hearing loss it rises to three times as likely and someone with a severe to profound loss is five times more likely.
But while hearing loss can often be a result of age, research shows the increased risk of dementia was not found in those using hearing aids. That is why it is so important not to suffer in silence and take action if you notice deterioration.
Linda Fulton, store director at Specsavers Ayr, says: "It takes on average 10 years for someone to seek help for hearing loss, what many people don’t realise is that a hearing test can flag up other health conditions.
"Having your hearing tested could be a simple step to ensure you are taking care of your ear health, and in turn, could reduce your chance of developing dementia.
"Sometimes it can be sudden, but more often than not hearing loss happens gradually and you may not notice it at first, therefore it is worth getting your hearing tested every two years once you reach 55 – it may do more for your health than you realise."
To find out more or to book a test visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/ayr-hearing
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