Half-million milestone for University-developed RNID Hearing Check
A hearing check designed by University of Southampton audiology experts to encourage people to tackle hearing loss at an early stage has clocked up more than half a million users in the UK.
The RNID Hearing Check was developed by the University's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) and is currently being used by national deafness and hearing loss charity RNID. It aims to encourage people who are worried about their hearing or are concerned that they may have a hearing loss to take action.
The Hearing Check is available via telephone on 0844 800 3838 and on RNID's website www.rnid.org.uk/check in both English and Welsh. The ISVR team has also developed a Swiss-German version for use in Switzerland and is now working on a Mandarin variation for China.
Professor Mark Lutman, who designed and validated the Hearing Check, says: "I am delighted that the check has proved so successful, and that it has been so widely used by RNID, who have used our technology to check the hearing of over 500,000 people.
"It is a sad fact that it can take someone up to 15 years after they first experience problems to take action on hearing loss. A readily available check like this means that people are free to check their hearing at an early stage in a relaxed and independent way."
The online and telephone Hearing Checks are confidential and take just five minutes to complete. They are 'speech-in-noise' checks, assessing the user's ability to hear someone speaking when there is background noise, similar to being in a crowded room. Anyone who is concerned about their hearing is encouraged to seek a full assessment via their GP.
Notes for editors
RNID is the largest charity working in the UK on hearing loss and hearing health. We do this with the help of our members by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.
For further information about RNID or to become a member, visit www.rnid.org.uk, contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email informationline@rnid.org.uk