Difficulty discerning everyday sounds, such as rustling leaves or falling rain, could signal undiagnosed hearing loss, an expert has warned.
This caution comes as RNID, the charity supporting those with deafness, hearing loss, or tinnitus, encourages people to prioritise auditory health and use their free online check.
A survey conducted for RNID included 1,810 individuals never diagnosed with hearing loss.
It found almost half (47 per cent) would struggle to hear leaves rustling in trees on a windy day, someone calling their name from another room (46 per cent) and the sound of rainfall nearby (43 per cent).
Around four in 10 said they would not be able to hear cyclists ringing their bell (42 per cent), someone knocking at their door (40 per cent), or a phone ringing in a nearby room (39 per cent) very clearly.
Crystal Rolfe, audiologist and director of health at RNID, said: “Struggling to hear certain sounds and frequencies in your daily life could be an indication of hearing loss.
“Hearing loss can happen at any time in life because there are many causes. You may also lose your hearing gradually over time due to age.
“Hearing loss can also be caused by exposure to loud noise levels, injury or an infection – and these are all things that can affect the clarity of everyday sounds.
“The sooner you recognise the signs and take action, the better. Getting support can bring huge benefits to people’s lives, so being aware of the sounds you might be missing is vital.”
Adam Felman, 36, from Worthing in West Sussex, was diagnosed with moderate to severe high frequency hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids.
He had his hearing checked after writing an article on hearing loss in his late 20s and realising he shared many symptoms.
The musician and freelance writer said: “I was missing all sorts of sounds before getting my hearing aids. The ticking of the oven timer, the ‘beep’ when I turned on a PlayStation controller, the crackle of our speakers when they are switched on but the TV isn’t.
“Birdsong was also a big one for me – it’s so three-dimensional and layered, and I was missing most of it. Some of these are tiny things, but they add up to a really frustrating and muted daily life.”
Ms Rolfe said RNID’s free online hearing check takes around three minutes, with results available immediately.
“There are huge benefits to taking action on undiagnosed hearing loss,” she added.
“People are suddenly able to communicate more easily and reconnect with friends, family and colleagues. A whole world of sounds you’d forgotten can suddenly open up. People are often amazed at what they’ve been missing.”
