More than 15 million people in the UK will suffer hearing loss by 2035 as numbers rise dramatically, a new report has found.
Data from the charity Action on Hearing Loss shows there are now 11 million people (one in six) in the UK living with hearing loss.
An increasingly ageing population means this figure is set to rise by 42 per cent, so by 2035 one in five people (15.6 million) will suffer.
The new study, Hearing Matters, examines the impact of deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss across the UK.
Figures show that just over 9.2 million people in England currently have hearing loss, alongside 575,500 in Wales, 287,500 in Northern Ireland and 945,000 in Scotland.
Of these, 900,000 people have severe or profound deafness - at least 24,000 of whom use British sign language - while one in 10 adults suffers from tinnitus.
Cures for hearing loss “are within our grasp”, said the study – but there is huge demand for more money to invest in research.
People wait a decade on average before seeking help for their hearing loss
Less than one per cent of medical research spending currently goes on hearing, which is the only area to see a decrease over the last decade, it added.
While £1.11 is spent for every person affected by hearing loss, £11.35 is spent for every person affected by sight loss.
Research currently suggests that people wait a decade on average before seeking help for their hearing loss. This is despite evidence showing that hearing loss doubles the risk of developing depression and increases the risk of anxiety and other mental health problems.
The report added: “There is now strong evidence that mild hearing loss doubles the risk of developing dementia - with moderate hearing loss leading to three times the risk, and severe hearing loss five times the risk.
“There is also evidence that hearing loss is linked to learning disabilities, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and obesity.”
Action on Hearing Loss said NHS hearing services are “under threat” and must be protected from the effects of NHS budget cuts.
“Despite our concerted campaigning, in October 2015 North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) became the first CCG to stop providing hearing aids to most people who need them - people with mild hearing loss will no longer get hearing aids, and people with moderate hearing loss will have to pass an eligibility test to get them,” the report said.
“This CCG decision runs contrary to all the evidence – the government must intervene to overturn the new policy.”
Further research by the charity earlier this year showed that six services (four in England, two in Wales) only give people one hearing aid, even if they have hearing loss in both ears.
Paul Breckell, the charity’s chief executive, said: “The government needs to intervene now to stop the shocking cuts to hearing aids, which has happened in North Staffordshire already, which runs contrary to NHS clinical evidence as they keep people in work and avoid them being socially isolated.”