UK Hearing Loss Statistics 2026: Prevalence, Hearing Aid Use and Dementia Risk

 UK Hearing Loss Statistics for 2026

An overview of what you need to know

Overview     |    Stigma, barriers, and emerging technology     |    Types of hearing loss    |    Tinnitus stats    |    The age factor    |    Impact on quality of life    |    Dementia risk    |    Conclusion and Key Takeaways    |  Key organisations and resources  

Last Hearing Aid UK Update:  03/06/2026

Overview

Hearing loss is far more common than most people realise, and for many it creeps in gradually over years, quietly reshaping the way they communicate long before they ever seek help.

This page brings together the most up-to-date UK statistics on hearing loss, hearing aid use, tinnitus, and related health outcomes, drawing on data from RNID, the Lancet Commission, Tinnitus UK, and the NHS. Each figure is sourced and dated, and the page is reviewed regularly to reflect new research as it emerges.

Whether you are here to understand your own hearing, to support someone you care about, or to reference the data for research or editorial purposes, we hope this gives you a clear and honest picture of where things stand.

Hearing loss is common in the UK

According to RNID, hearing loss affects around 18 million people in the UK, and is more common among older adults. Over half of the population aged 55+, and 80% of those aged 70 and older, experience hearing loss.

These are worrying numbers with concerning consequences when left untreated, as hearing loss is known to greatly impact the quality of life, and is associated with loneliness and social isolation, with a higher risk of cognitive decline.

Stigma, barriers, and emerging technology

Hearing loss is classified as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed, yet new research suggests that nearly 50% of people in the UK think that hearing aids, unlike glasses, still carry stigma.  Another worrying statistic is that 11% would rather live with hearing loss than wear hearing aids at all.

The big consumer tech brands are starting to move into hearing health, and that could quietly change how people think about it. In September 2024, Apple announced a Hearing Test feature for AirPods Pro 2, based on clinical-grade pure-tone audiometry, allowing users to assess their hearing levels at home in around five minutes.

The Hearing Test feature became available to UK users in December 2024. A separate Hearing Aid feature, which would allow the AirPods Pro 2 to function as an over-the-counter hearing aid for mild to moderate loss, has received FDA clearance in the United States but has not yet received regulatory approval from the MHRA for use in the UK.

While the full hearing aid capability remains unavailable here, the broader trend signals a shift in how hearing health is perceived, particularly as familiar consumer devices begin to incorporate hearing support.

Tinnitus

Around 30% of people in the UK will, at some point in their lives, experience tinnitus, and around 1 in 7 adults are living with permanent tinnitus right now.

However, tinnitus is more common among those who already have hearing loss, with 80% of people with severe to profound hearing loss having the condition. If you have ever noticed a persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears that no one else can hear, that is tinnitus, and it is far more disruptive to daily life than many people expect.

The relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus is a complex one. Many experience both conditions at the same time, with tinnitus sometimes being the first sign of underlying hearing damage. 

Age factor

Hearing loss becomes more common as you age.

• Over half of people 55+ in the UK have hearing loss.
• 80% of people above the age of 70 experience some level of hearing loss. (Source for both points: RNID)

The number of people living with hearing loss is expected to continue rising as the UK population ages. The figure has already surpassed projections made just a decade ago, when 14.5 million was considered a future estimate for 2031 (NHS England Action Plan, 2015).

The current baseline of 18 million is now the figure recognised across public health, charity, and clinical settings.

Impact on quality of life

Does hearing loss make you miss out on conversations or cause you to avoid socialising? You're not alone.

• People who are deaf or have hearing loss are twice as likely to experience mental health problems.
• 38% of people who think they may have a hearing loss have not spoken to their local GP. (Source for both points:  RNID)

People with untreated hearing loss often withdraw from social situations, leading to loneliness and problems with future hearing health.

Children

Approximately 50,000 children in the UK have hearing loss. Around half are born with it, whilst the other half lose their hearing during childhood. In fact, 1 to 2 babies in every 1,000 are born with permanent hearing loss in either one or both ears. This signifies an important population requiring specialist support and early intervention.

Dementia

The link between hearing loss and dementia is now well established. Research by Frank Lin and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University (2011) found that people with hearing loss face a meaningfully higher risk of developing dementia, with that risk increasing alongside the severity of the loss.

The link between hearing loss and dementia is one of the most important findings in hearing health research in recent years. The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention has identified untreated hearing loss as the single largest modifiable risk factor for dementia, meaning it is the one thing most likely to increase your risk that can actually be addressed. Their 2024 update put that increased risk at 37%, which is a figure that is hard to ignore.

The link is thought to work in two ways: social withdrawal caused by hearing loss is itself a dementia risk factor, and the additional mental effort required to process sound with impaired hearing may strain cognitive resources over time.

Crucially, the Lancet Commission recommends hearing aids as a step that appears to reduce this excess risk. The evidence is now clear that addressing hearing loss earlier rather than later is one of the most practical things a person can do to support their long-term cognitive health.

Why has the number of people with hearing loss jumped in the UK from 12 million to 18 million?

Why did the number of people with hearing loss in the UK suddenly jump?  Back in June 2024, RNID wrote an article explaining the change in this calculation. 

Firstly, it now uses population data from the 2021-22 census instead of the 2011 census, which informed the previous estimate of 12 million people.

Secondly, it includes those with milder levels of hearing loss and those with hearing loss in one ear, who were previously excluded. By including anyone with any degree of hearing loss, whether in one ear or both, it as of now exactly shows the accurate total of adults affected by hearing loss in the UK.

Types of hearing loss

• Conductive hearing loss is caused by problems in the outer or middle ear, which is often treatable.
• Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, which is usually permanent.
• Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Hearing aid usage

Approximately 3 million people in the UK currently use hearing aids, yet an estimated 10 million adults could benefit from them (RNID). That means fewer than one in three people who would benefit from wearing hearing aids actually do so.

Despite the clear benefits, millions of people put off doing anything about their hearing. Stigma plays a significant part, as do worries about cost, but often it simply comes down to the fact that hearing loss tends to creep up so gradually that people do not realise how much they are missing until someone else points it out.

On average, people wait around ten years from first noticing a change in their hearing before speaking to a professional about it.  Attitudes are a significant part of the picture. RNID research published in September 2024 found that:

• Nearly half (47%) of people believe hearing aids have not been accepted by society in the way that glasses have
• One in five (19%) would not want to wear hearing aids because they feel it would make them look old
• 18% were concerned about what other people would think of them
• 11% said they would rather live with hearing loss than wear hearing aids at all

"In over 20 years of fitting hearing aids, the most common thing we hear from people is that they wish they had come sooner. The ten-year wait is real, and we see it regularly. By the time most people book an appointment, their hearing has declined further than it needed to, and the people around them have often been quietly compensating for years."

Paul Harrison, Council Member, British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) 2015–2020, Audiology Expert at Hearing Aid UK

Effectiveness

The satisfaction figures speak for themselves. EuroTrak UK (2025) found that 82% of hearing aid users are satisfied with their devices, and 96% say hearing aids improve their quality of life most of the time.

Today's hearing aids barely resemble the devices of even ten years ago. AI-powered processing, seamless smartphone connectivity, and discreet designs that sit invisibly in or behind the ear are quietly changing minds among people who once thought hearing aids were not for them.

Hearing loss awareness and education

Increasing awareness of hearing loss and supporting frequent hearing checks is so important, especially among older adults.

NICE guidelines recommend that individuals with aidable hearing loss in both ears should be fitted with two hearing aids for improved speech clarity, especially in noisy surroundings. They also recommend follow-up appointments 6-12 weeks after fitting, with ongoing care to continue to meet those needs.

Conclusion

The numbers on this page tell a consistent story: hearing loss touches more people than most of us realise, its consequences when left unaddressed reach well beyond hearing itself, and the barriers stopping people from seeking help are largely not clinical but personal.

Around one in three adults in the UK lives with some degree of hearing loss, tinnitus, or deafness. The links to social withdrawal, mental health difficulties, and increased dementia risk are now well established in the research.

And yet only around one in three people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them, with the average person waiting a decade before speaking to a professional.

That gap matters because the evidence is equally clear that acting early makes a genuine difference. Over 96% of hearing aid users report an improvement in their quality of life. Modern devices are more discreet, more capable, and more accessible than any previous generation of hearing technology.

If you have noticed changes in your hearing, or a family member has, a free hearing test with one of our qualified HCPC-registered audiologists is a straightforward place to start. There is no obligation, no pressure, no cost, and we can see you either in a local clinic or in the comfort of your own home. Call us free on 0800 567 7621 or book an appointment online here.

Key takeaways

✔️ Around 18 million people in the UK live with hearing loss, deafness, or tinnitus, yet only 3 million currently use hearing aids.

✔️ According to RNID, more than 8 in 10 people over the age of 70 live with some degree of hearing loss.

✔️ The Lancet Commission identifies untreated hearing loss as the single largest modifiable risk factor for dementia, with a 37% increased risk. Hearing aids appear to reduce this excess risk.

✔️ The average person waits around ten years from first noticing a change in their hearing before speaking to a professional. Acting earlier makes a genuine difference.

✔️ Once people do take the step, most do not look back. EuroTrak UK found that 96% of hearing aid users feel better for wearing them, and 82% say they are happy.

Key organisations and resources for hearing loss and hearing aids

• NHS (National Health Service):  Website - https://www.nhs.uk/
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID):   Website - https://rnid.org.uk/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):  https://www.nice.org.uk/
• Tinnitus UK:  https://tinnitus.org.uk/
• National Library of Medicine (NLM):  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• British Academy of Audiology (BAA):  https://baaudiology.org/