Do not wait or hesitate to have hearing aids if you need them

So true
I have worn hearing aids for several years now , but prior to “biting the bullet” and asking my GP for a hearing aid referral
I was becoming more embarrassed by my inability to take part in conversations and meetings, and asking people to repeat what they said. In the end I stopped taking part and gradually started to become more left out of things.
NHS hearing aids made such a difference to me , I would now encourage everyone one , or their partners who have concern the there behalf to get tested .
It does take time to get use to them, but they do make such a difference. I recommend a hearing test to all my hard of hearing friends ??

Ah, great news caro. Yes, becoming socially unable to communicate must be debilitating in so many ways. Also, the brain finds it much easier to adapt to hearing aids if you are still mentally and socially active. Bravo.

I would definitely have needed them while working, I too found it impossible to follow a meeting. But now that I am retired my hearing is plenty good enough for day to day interractions and I can put the dialogue on TV if I'm that interested!

Glad it works for you BlueSky- but that is not at all the point made by the USA specialists.

Jura2 as I said elsewhere I'm not particularly sociable so I don't miss the social interaction. I am anxious and depressed at times like everybody else I guess. Am I doomed to dementia as well? Something else to worry about...