Blog: Why World Hearing Day matters to the older ex-military
Today on World Hearing Day we encourage older ex-service men and women, and their friends and families, to be hearing loss aware, and to seek timely support where necessary.
In Scotland around one in six people have some form of hearing loss. A report in 2014 by the Royal British Legion indicated that UK ex-service men and women under the age of 75 are about three and a half times more likely that the general population to report difficulty hearing.
This is in part because many veterans were exposed to a level of noise during service sufficient to damage their hearing. Also, hearing loss increases sharply with age, and more than half of veterans in the Scotland are over age 65.
Hearing loss has a big impact on quality of life. It can be socially isolating. One study found that current and former service personnel with hearing problems were more likely to report poor mental health. Hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus, where someone is aware of untraceable sounds, commonly hissing or ringing. There can also be problems with balance.
Research shows that on average people delay seeking treatment for ten years after they first experience signs of hearing loss. Yet early support can make a huge difference. Hearing aids fitted early avoid your brain having to relearn sounds not heard for many years. Studies have shown that people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, but only if they haven’t had timely support.
So, if you served in HM Armed Forces, or know someone who served, be alert to the early signs of hearing loss and don’t delay acting if required. Age Scotland publishes a free Combatting Sight and Hearing Loss guide that explains these early signs and tells you about support that’s available for living with hearing loss.
A longer version of this article will appear in the next issue of Unforgotten Forces, Scotland’s free magazine for older ex-service men and women, their families, and supporters. Subscribe today
