World Hearing Day 2021

Today marks World Hearing Day 2021 and LQ BID has teamed up with LQ-based charity RNID to provide ten facts about hearing and hearing loss.

Many of us will be more aware of our hearing and reliance on facial expressions since the pandemic; from struggling to understand people wearing masks to relying on bad internet connections during video calls.

RNID exists to make life more inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus. The charity provides a range of services across Northern Ireland, from information and practical support with NHS hearing aids, to support in the workplace and online tinnitus management webinars.

10 interesting facts about hearing loss:

1. in 5 adults in Northern Ireland have hearing loss

2. The bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes) are the body’s smallest bones. All three can fit together on the surface area of a penny.

3. People wait on an average of 10 years before seeking help for their hearing loss

4. Many people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus.

5. Long exposure to sounds over 80dB, such as a noisy concerts or loud working environments, can cause permanent damage to your ears

6. Your ears continue to grow throughout your lifetime

7. Many people with hearing loss rely on lipreading, so make sure you face the person you’re talking to and try and avoid background noise if possible. Read RNID’s communication tips for more information.

8. In 2018, just 83p was spent on hearing research for every person affected by hearing loss. This compares to £193 per person living with cancer, £21 per person living with cardiovascular disease and £16 on eye research per person living with sight loss.

9. Not all living creatures hear with ears. Snakes use jawbones, fish respond to pressure changes, and male mosquitoes use antennae.

10. Age related damage to the inner ear is the most common cause of hearing loss, but hearing loss can be experienced at any age. The second most common cause is exposure to loud noise. Hearing loss can also be caused by infections, earwax and certain drugs.

Contact RNID in Northern Ireland for support with hearing loss: email information.nireland@rnid.org.uk, call 028 9023 9619, or visit www.rnid.org.uk