Hearing loss is a common condition, affecting about 945 000 people in Scotland. This is set to increase over the next 20 years to one in five people.
Hearing problems usually deteriorate as people get older and are most common in people over 65. Hearing loss affects approximately 80% of people over 85.
There is also a large group of people (15%) with dual sensory (vision and hearing) loss. This group of people is also set to increase.
Hearing difficulties can happen at any age and have a number of different causes. People are often put off getting help for hearing loss. Yet it can have a major impact on their quality of life, causing them to lose confidence and feel isolated from family and friends. It can also lead to depression and anxiety.