NHS details here are for England. Services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may work differently.
1. What are the signs of hearing loss in an elderly parent?
- difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places
- needing to ask people to repeat themselves
- listening to music or watching TV with the volume higher than other people need
- difficulty hearing on the phone
- finding it hard to keep up with a conversation
- feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening
At home, that can look quite ordinary. Answering a slightly different question from the one you asked. Laughing a beat after everyone else. Letting the phone ring out, or handing it to someone else.
The NHS says gradual hearing loss in both ears is often caused by ageing or by damage from loud noise over many years. It creeps up, so your parent may genuinely not have noticed.
This is not a diagnosis. Only a proper hearing assessment can say what's going on.
2. When is hearing loss urgent?
Most age-related hearing loss comes on slowly. Some doesn't.
The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have sudden hearing loss in 1 or both ears
- your hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
- you have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as earache or discharge coming out of the ear
Don't wait to see if it settles. If your parent can't manage the call, make it with them. If hearing loss comes with signs of a stroke, such as a drooping face, weak arm or slurred speech, call 999.
For gradual changes, the NHS says to see a GP if you think your hearing is getting gradually worse.
3. How do I bring up hearing loss with my parent?
Pick a quiet moment, just the two of you. Not at the dinner table. Not in front of the grandchildren.
Start with what you've noticed and how it affects you both, not with a label.
"I've noticed the telly's been up quite loud lately. Have you found it harder to hear things?"
"You seemed a bit lost at Sunday lunch. Was it hard to follow with everyone talking?"
"I miss chatting on the phone with you. Is it getting harder to hear me?"
Keep it about the conversations you both want to keep having.
"I'd love it if we could find something that makes talking easier. Would you be up for a hearing check?"
Then listen. One conversation won't settle it, and that's fine.
4. What if my parent says their hearing is fine?
That's very common. Hearing loss can feel like a sign of getting old, and nobody enjoys being told something's wrong.
Don't argue the point or keep testing them with whispered questions. It tends to backfire.
Offer something small and low-pressure instead.
"It only takes a few minutes. Shall we both do it?"
RNID's free online hearing check takes about 3 minutes and measures how well you can hear speech when there's background noise. It's for adults who haven't been diagnosed with hearing loss. Use headphones or earphones rather than built-in speakers, somewhere quiet. If the results suggest hearing loss, RNID gives you a letter explaining the result that you can take to the GP.
Doing it together takes the spotlight off them.
Remember it's their hearing and their choice. Your job is to make the next step easy, not to force it.
5. How does my parent get a hearing test?
There are a few routes.
Through the GP. RNID says you can get a free hearing test on the NHS by going to see your GP. If there's no obvious cause, the GP should refer to an NHS audiology service. RNID notes NHS audiologists are usually based in hospitals but are also in some well-known high street chains.
Self-referral, in some areas. Some NHS areas let adults refer themselves to audiology without seeing a GP first. For example, in Lancashire and South Cumbria, people aged 50 and over with hearing problems can self-refer, but must see a GP first if they have sudden or rapid hearing loss, persistent pain or vertigo, or certain types of tinnitus. Ask the GP practice whether your area offers this.
On the high street. RNID says many high street chains and independent hearing clinics offer hearing tests, often free. The NHS says you can sometimes get a free hearing test at some pharmacies and opticians. If a private test shows hearing aids would help, your parent can still go to the GP for a referral to get free NHS hearing aids.
If you're going with them, ask the practice to note any communication needs on their record. Here's what patients can ask a GP practice for.
6. Are NHS hearing aids free?
Yes. The NHS says hearing aids are provided free as a long-term loan, and batteries and repairs are free. There may be a charge if one is lost or broken and needs replacing.
NHS aids are usually the behind-the-ear type. Private aids offer a wider range, including smaller models, and the NHS says they can cost anything from £500 to £3,500 or more for a single aid.
Hearing aids won't make hearing perfect, and the NHS says getting used to them may take a few weeks or months. A follow-up appointment is usually arranged a few weeks after fitting, and your parent can contact their audiologist at any point if they're having problems.
7. Could it just be earwax?
Possibly. The NHS lists hearing loss and a blocked feeling among the symptoms of earwax build-up.
The NHS guidance on earwax is clear: do not use fingers or objects like cotton buds. They push wax further in and make it worse.
The NHS suggests 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil in the ear, 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days, lying on your side for 5 to 10 minutes each time. A pharmacist can also suggest drops. Don't use drops if there's a hole in the eardrum (a perforated eardrum).
If symptoms haven't cleared after 5 days, the NHS says to see a nurse at the GP surgery. Not all GP surgeries remove earwax. Some offer irrigation or microsuction; if not, you might be referred elsewhere or have to pay privately.
8. Is hearing loss linked to dementia?
This is worth knowing about calmly.
The NHS lists hearing loss among the factors research suggests may be important for dementia risk. RNID explains that people with hearing loss in mid- or later life are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia, but that this is a pattern, not proof that hearing loss causes dementia. Having hearing loss does not mean someone will develop dementia.
RNID says early research suggests hearing aids might help reduce the risk for some people, and that more research is needed.
So it's one more good reason to get hearing checked. It isn't a reason to panic, and it isn't a line to use to frighten your parent into an appointment.
9. How can we keep talking while we wait?
Tests and fittings take time. Conversation can get easier today.
Face them. Get their attention first. Turn the telly down. Say it differently rather than louder. Our guide on how to talk to someone hard of hearing covers the full list.
Big family occasions are often the hardest part. These tips for family gatherings can help everyone, not just your parent.
If a one-to-one chat keeps stalling, a phone can help bridge the gap. Subt is a free web app for face-to-face conversations: open it, put the phone on the table between you, and what you say appears as large text for your parent to read. There's no account and nothing is saved. The web version uses your browser's speech service and works in Chrome, Edge and Safari. It won't diagnose anything or replace a hearing test, but it can keep them in the conversation while you sort the next step out.
Quick answers
Can I book a hearing test for my parent?
You can help, but it's their appointment and their decision. Offer to make the call, fill in a form or go with them. If they'd rather go alone, that's their choice.
Does my parent have to pay for a hearing test?
Not on the NHS. RNID says a GP can arrange a free NHS hearing test, and NHS hearing aids are free on long-term loan. High street tests are often free too, but check before booking.
Is it normal for hearing to get worse with age?
The NHS says gradual hearing loss in both ears is often caused by ageing or by noise damage over many years. Common doesn't mean it should be ignored. A hearing test can show what help is available.
Sources
- NHS: Hearing loss
- NHS: Earwax build-up
- NHS: Hearing aids and implants
- NHS: Dementia prevention
- RNID: Get your hearing tested
- RNID: Take our online hearing check
- RNID: Hearing loss and dementia, how are they linked?
- NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB: Age-related hearing loss 50 years+ self-referral
