A new year-long campaign aimed at encouraging people over the age of 50 to get their hearing tested, has been launched.

The ‘Campaign for Better Hearing' is a global movement, which is being backed in Ireland by Hidden Hearing. Recent research suggests that 86% of hearing loss in Ireland is left untreated. This can be for a number of reasons, including the perceived stigma of wearing a hearing device.

The campaign noted that around 100,000 people in Ireland may be risking a range of adverse physical and psychological effects by failing to have their hearing loss treated, such as social isolation, depression and poorer heart health.

It has three main goals:
-Inform and educate people about hearing health
-Inform and educate people about the dangers of untreated hearing loss
-Provide free hearing tests to all people over the age of 50.

The campaign was launched by Daniel and Majella O'Donnell, who encouraged people over the age of 50 to have their hearing tested.

"Chatting to the neighbours, enjoying a concert or play, or simply hearing the world go by outside is significant to our wellbeing. One in five Irish people over the age of 50 actually suffers from hearing loss, so the call is for everyone to test their ears at 50 years," Daniel commented.

Free hearing tests are currently available to people over the age of 50 in Hidden Hearing's 75 clinics nationwide. For more information, click here

For more information on Campaign for Better Hearing, click here 

*Pictured at the launch of the campaign - Daniel and Majella O'Donnell