Music is the favourite sound for people aged 50+… just not too loud please!
Over half of adult’s aged 50+ say music is their favourite sound but just not too loud – as the poll commissioned by Age UK Hearing Aids also finds that 34% say loud music is the 2nd most irritating soundi.
The figures are announced to mark the launch of Age UK Hearing Aids, to help make life better for older people with hearing difficulties by providing a complete hearing care service which guides people through the entire process from hearing tests, recommendations, products and free life-time aftercare.
Other favourite sounds include a baby’s giggle, crackling fire, hearing the words ‘I love you’, sizzling food, pitter patter of raindrops and a cheering crowdii.
According to the poll, women and men prefer different sounds, the sounds that ranked highest among women include a baby’s giggle (46%), laughter (55%) and a crackling fire (28%)iii with men’s favourite sound being waves lapping (35%)iv.
In addition, snoring ranked more highly among women with 35% finding the sound irritating compared to just 24% of menv. The irritating sounds that ranked higher with men included the noise of neighbours (24%) and people talking in the cinema (28%)vi.
Other irritating sounds that appear in the list included the sound of a dentist’s drill, finger nails on a blackboard, noisy TV, knuckle crunching, construction work and noisy eatersvii.
The poll was conducted to raise awareness of hearing care particularly amongst people over the age of 50. Hearing difficulties can have a devastating impact – in the worst cases leading to depression, social isolation and loneliness. These effects are often worse than expected and older people are disproportionately affected by hearing difficultiesviii, so it’s really important that the right help and support is available.
Helena King, Head of Affinity and Development at Age UK said: “The poll is a snap shot of the sounds that we all take for granted. Hearing care is a crucial issue for older people. Age UK Hearing Aids has been developed to help – with our team of qualified audiologists we work around the needs of our customers so getting your hearing checked couldn’t be easier. We’ve teamed up with UK Hearing Care as they are leaders in the field and offer a service we are happy to work with.”
Mark Harwood Group Managing Director for UK Hearing Care Ltd said: “The ability to hear and enjoy the landscape of our world around us is so important. When our sense of hearing is working as it should, it gives us the power to communicate, feel, experience and connect with family, friends and others around us. There is no better feeling at UK Hearing Care than knowing we have helped someone experience better, clearer hearing assisting them to improve the quality of their lives and others around them”
Age UK Hearing Aids responds directly to the needs of each individual, meaning that its team of fully qualified audiologists carry out free, no-obligation hearing assessments either at home or at one of the high street facilities across the UK. It will advise on all the solution choices available – whether it’s a free hearing aid from the NHS or a bespoke option tailored to personal needs. Age UK Hearing Aids has a team on hand to support and advise over the phone and offer after sales care.
This research has been issued by Age UK as part of its ‘Living Your Way’ campaign. The campaign aims to help give older people choice and control to stay independent for as long as possible through information, advice, practical services and specially designed products. The campaign runs through August and September.
For more information about Age UK Hearing Aids or to book an appointment please call 0800 524 4708 or visit www.ageukhearingaids.co.uk
Age UK
Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.
We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to well over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well-being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.
Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group (“we”). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity’s trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).
Age UK Hearing Aids is a trading name of UK Hearing Care Management Services Ltd (registered in England and Wales 8364706) working in association with Age UK Trading Ltd. Age UK Trading Ltd is a trading subsidiary of Age UK (charity number 1128267) and donates its net profits to that charity. UK Hearing Care Management Services Ltd uses the name ‘Age UK’ under licence agreement with Age UK Trading Ltd. UK Hearing Care Management Services Ltd will raise a minimum of £100,000 for Age UK Trading Ltd during 2013 through the promotion and sale of hearing aids. Age UK Trading Ltd is registered in England and Wales 1102972. Registered Office Tavis House,1-6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA
i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii TNS Capi Omnibus poll commissioned by Age UK, 2013
viii (D. H. Wilson et al. (1999) ‘The Epidemiology of Hearing Impairment in the Australian Adult Population’, International Journal of Epidemiology, 28: 247–52)
Age UK is proud to hold the ‘Best Integrated Campaign’ award for Spread the Warmth from the PR Week Awards 2012
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