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Hands position a behind‑the‑ear hearing aid onto someone’s ear. Hands position a behind‑the‑ear hearing aid onto someone’s ear.

Hearing

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If you feel like you can’t hear as well as those around you, it can be very frustrating. It can give adults trouble understanding instructions at work or children trouble with hearing in the classroom. And when it’s harder to hear others, it can also make people feel reluctant to get involved in conversations.

This page explains the different kinds of hearing problems you might have and what causes them, and what support is available to get you hearing clearly again.

More about hearing

What causes hearing problems

If you have a problem with your hearing it can be caused by a number of different reactions, including, an ear infection or a buildup of thick, sticky fluid (glue ear), earwax blocking your ear, damage caused by loud noise like music, machinery or using headphones for too long, hearing loss as you get older, genetic conditions, a sound in your ears called tinnitus (it may sound like buzzing or ringing), sudden hearing loss along with dizziness, a spinning sensation called vertigo and other medical or neurological conditions that affect your hearing.

If you have sudden, unexplained hearing loss contact your GP surgery for a same day appointment. They will rule out any obvious causes. Do not delay and do not wait to see if it resolves on its own, your GP will know if you need an urgent referral to ENT.

If you need non-urgent hearing support, we can help with difficulty hearing speech, especially in noisy places, needing to ask people to repeat, tinnitus, sensitivity to loud or certain sounds, ear pain, infections or feeling “blocked”, balance problems caused by an inner ear issue, getting, using and adjusting hearing aids, speech and communication issues linked to hearing loss and help using assistive listening devices (ALDs).

Self-help

Things you can try today.

Questions and answers

How do I know if I have a hearing problem?
It’s not always easy to tell if you have a problem with your hearing – for example, you might not be sure if you’re turning up the TV more because you’re struggling to hear, or just because you’re watching something that’s too quiet. If you notice that you’re struggling to follow conversations, especially in noisy environments, or if sounds seem muffled to you, it’s worth getting a hearing test to find out why.
What should I do if my child doesn’t seem to hear well?
The first step should be speaking to your GP or health visitor. Hearing issues in children can often be caused by a buildup of thick, sticky fluid called glue ear. This is a temporary and treatable condition, so it’s best to rule that out before getting in touch with a specialist.
Is hearing loss just a normal part of ageing?
It’s normal for your hearing to change as you get older, but that doesn’t mean you should have to accept it if your hearing loss is impacting your life. If you’re concerned with changes to your hearing, get in touch to find out what support and hearing aids are available to help.
Can earwax cause hearing problems?
Yes – earwax that’s blocking your ear canal is a common cause of hearing problems. If you think wax might be behind your hearing problem, speak to a community clinic or your GP to get advice on removing the wax safely. Do not try to remove the wax yourself as this can damage your ear.
What is tinnitus, and can anything help?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound where there is no external source. It can be heard in many ways, ringing, hissing, clicking and humming are just a few examples. It is not a disease and it is very common. However if it is distressing you or affecting your well being then speak to your GP for advice and consideration of an onward referral for help and support. There are many life style adjustments that can improve your experience of tinnitus.
Can hearing aids help?
Hearing aids are effectively used by many people to help them manage hearing loss and hearing difficulties. Using communication tactics, lipreading and helping family and friends understand what they can do to help is also important when you are using hearing aids to make the most of them.
Will I hear everything with hearing aids?
Hearing aids perform best in quieter situations by clarifying and boosting speech recognition. They will not perform as well In background noise as it becomes increasingly harder for the device to recognise the speech signal you require whilst suppressing all other sounds.
How can I protect my hearing?
Try to avoid loud music when you can, and use ear protection in noisy places like concerts, sports events and around building works. If you use headphones often, make sure to give your ears regular breaks.

Services that can help

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