What is it like to be Deaf?

Around 1 in 6¹ of us are now thought to be living with some degree of hearing loss (over 40% of people over 50 and over 70% of over-70s).

Did you know - hearing can affect memory?

For Hugh Donaghy, spokesperson for Royal National Institute for Deaf People RNID, one of the first signs of hearing loss was problems with his memory.

"I was working for a company which had regular meetings in a large boardroom," he says. "But I started to have problems remembering what had been said. I started to get stressed out, to the point where I tried to avoid meetings when possible.

"The doctor later told me my symptom was likely a result of hearing loss. I've always been deaf in my right ear, but the hearing in my left was deteriorating without my realising. I discovered that our brains work a bit like a short-term memory on a computer. When it's full, it looks for information to discard. And any conversations where you miss a word, subconsciously your brain filters through, and later discards them."

It would be easy to assume that those with hearing loss who wear hearing aids are able to hear without issue. However, while technology is improving all the time, hearing aids aren't an asset in all situations.

"My hearing loss is at a particular frequency, but hearing aids pick up all frequencies and fire them into your ear," explains Hugh. "Your brain has to decipher it. The upshot of that is in busy areas the noise can be unbearable. And even when things are quieter, your brain has to work hard, meaning you tire more easily."

Perhaps as it's often associated with ageing, many people are reluctant to admit they have hearing loss.

"Most people in their 50s and above know they cannot hear as well as they used to. But it takes people on average 10 years to acknowledge hearing loss, so many people with difficulties may be unprepared to disclose them," explains Hugh.

When interacting with people we don't know, it's common for those without hearing loss to assume others they come into contact with can also hear without an issue. This assumption can cause problems for those with hearing loss - and with around 12 million people² in the UK now living with hearing loss, it's time to challenge that assumption.

Other easy modifications to the way we do things could make a big difference for deaf people.

Don't assume everyone can hear

"People assume you can hear - but with 1 in 6 of us having some form of hearing loss, it shouldn't be an assumption we make," says Hugh.

"Once a ticket seller on the subway was quite rude to me when I asked him to repeat something; he was horrified when I explained I was deaf. But if we all thought a little more about this possibility, things would be a lot easier for those with hearing loss."

Improve information delivery

With so many of us experiencing some degree of hearing loss, you'd expect public infrastructure to be geared up to support those who need it. However, public service announcements - for example, in train stations and airports - are often not accompanied by a visual. This can lead to great problems for those with deafness.

Hugh says he has been on the wrong train more than once because a change of platform was announced at the last minute.

Take responsibility

Imagine having an invisible condition but having to declare it loudly to strangers each and every time you needed support or encountered a new person. And with hearing aids often small and discreet, those with hearing loss are not always apparent on first glance. This means that many deaf people have to take responsibility for highlighting their disability in new situations in order to get support, which can cause undue stress.

"People know when you've got problems with your vision, because you're wearing glasses," Hugh explains. "But people don't always see hearing aids - especially the new ones. The onus remains on Deaf people to tell people we're deaf. This places an additional burden on us. For example, in hotels, a quick question about hearing loss could improve safety - as those with hearing loss will not hear fire or other alarms - and save the deaf person from having to raise the subject repeatedly."

Alter your behaviour

Finally, if you know you are working with someone with hearing loss, it's important to understand their specific difficulties and preferences.

For example, Hugh explains that, if you want to talk to him in the office, you need to get his attention first.

"It takes me a moment to realise who is speaking to me, and I'll miss what you say otherwise."

Don't be afraid to ask the questions - doing so will make life easier for your friend or colleague and improve communication all round.

By modifying our thinking and avoiding assumptions, we could make a big difference to the daily lives of Deaf people.

1. British Academy of Audiology 'Facts about hearing loss and deafness'.

2. RNID 'Facts and figures'.