Do you often have trouble hearing conversations?
Do you always need subtitles when watching TV?
Do hearing problems affect your social life?
Did you know that untreated hearing loss can lead to mental health problems as well as loneliness and isolation?
Hearing Loss is an issue
If you’re over 55, there’s a 50% chance that you have hearing loss. Over 70, there’s an 80% chance that you have hearing loss.
If you want to take the first step towards checking your hearing, take the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) 3 Minute Hearing Test
- Just use your mobile phone and select the QR code on the right to take the test directly
- Or Visit https://rnid.org.uk/about-us/rnid-in-scotland for the test and more information
What to do if you find you have hearing loss
Visit your Primary and Secondary Care services
Ask your GP to refer you to your local Audiology Department for a full test. NHS and private hearing tests are free and without obligation. If a test shows you need hearing aids, these don’t have to cost a fortune. It’s worth shopping around for the aids that suit you best. NHS hearing aids are free; they use up-to-date technology, but getting an appointment may take longer.
Use Technology Services
A wide range of equipment is available to help with hearing loss, whether or not you wear hearing aids. This includes assistive listening devices to make speech clearer, alerting devices and aids to help deal with tinnitus.
Use Focused Charities and Council Services
- Hearing Link Services is a national charity whose services are free. They are part of the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity. There's an online help desk, a ‘Helpful Hours’ service, Community Outreach (including two drop-in Hearing Support Sessions a month in Edinburgh), an online shop and ‘Link Up’ support weekends to bring people with hearing loss together.
https://www.hearinglink.org
- RNID is the national charity supporting more than 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. https://rnid.org.uk/about-us/rnid-in-scotland
- Deaf Action provides a variety of services such as digital skills training, wellbeing, counselling and befriending. They have a deaf-friendly cafe in Edinburgh.
https://deafaction.org
- Edinburgh City Council runs free lipreading and BSL signing classes at various venues in the city, as well as Managing Your Hearing Loss courses.
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/disabilities/sensory-loss-services
Join a Support Group
- Join a hearing loss support group if there’s one in your area – or consider starting one if you know other people with hearing loss who would benefit from meeting and supporting each other.
- If you live in or near Edinburgh, the new Edinburgh and Lothians Hearing Loss Support Group offers mutual support, information and advice – and a range of social activities. More information to follow,
Potential Online Course - Interested?
We are hoping to run a free six-week online course giving further information and advice on hearing loss if there is interest from Members.. If you’re interested, email The u3a_contact addressee is not known or has no email address
Page last updated on 23rd March 2025