Did you know that more than 18 million adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss? This World Hearing Day let’s all take a moment to think about our ear health and how we can make communication easier for everyone. 

This year’s theme, ‘Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself to Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All!’, builds on last year’s focus and encourages people of all ages to take control of their hearing health. 

How you can protect your hearing: 

• Limit exposure to loud sounds – keep the volume down and use ear protection when needed. 

• Check your hearing regularly – early detection makes a difference. 

• Use hearing aids or assisting devices if needed. 

• Support others – be mindful of those with hearing loss and help create a more inclusive community. 

If you're worried about your hearing, you can take the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) hearing check online. 

Communicating with friends and neighbours who have hearing loss: 

It’s easy to feel frustrated when communication becomes difficult, but a few simple adjustments can make a world of difference. Here are three golden rules: 

• Get their attention – A wave or a gentle tap on the shoulder before speaking helps. 

• Face them – Many people rely on lipreading, so always face the person when talking. 

• Be patient – If they don’t understand you, rephrase or try a different approach. 

Want to learn some basic British Sign Language (BSL)? You can find helpful resources including videos online at RNID: www.rnid.org.uk