A Wirral optician is urging families to encourage loved ones with hearing loss to get their hearing checked and help reconnect with their families.

The appeal is part of November's Hearing Awareness Month.

A survey for Hearing Awareness Month by Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care showed that 43% of people with hearing loss had experienced isolation from their loved ones. But of those that had resolved the issue with hearing aids, 64% now felt closer to their family.

More than half (55%) also said family members had expressed frustration having to repeat themselves all the time and similarly got annoyed by the TV being turned up too loud.

Karl Hughes, manager of Scrivens' Liscard Way branch, said: "Evidence suggests that people wait on average ten years before seeking help for their hearing loss yet the earlier it is treated the better.

"Struggling to hear what is being said or continually asking people to repeat themselves is not much fun and there are bigger issues at stake too.

“Left untreated hearing loss can lead to withdrawal from social situations and feeling down and isolated. It has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia.

"It may feel like a big step to book a hearing check and that it’s something that can be put off, but we would urge people to act, especially in Hearing Awareness Month.

"For family and friends who are concerned it is also a timely reminder to encourage loved ones to take that first step."

The most common signs of age-related hearing loss are:

Finding it difficult to keep up with a conversation

Mishearing what others are saying

Regularly asking people to repeat themselves

Family and friends complaining that the TV or radio is too loud 

Feeling tired or stressed due to having to concentrate to hear what people say

Finding it difficult to hear people over the phone

Avoiding social occasions and noisy environments because you can’t hear what people are saying NHS hearing tests and digital hearing aids are accessible on the high street.

As a first step people can take the Scrivens online hearing health check or get their hearing checked for free at their local branch.

Scrivens recommend an annual hearing health check for anyone over 50 and every two years for anyone over 40 to identify any changes and see what action is needed.