TV presenter Anne Diamond is still making the headlines. She tells Action on Hearing Loss why she’s speaking out now about her hearing loss.

Having hosted countless phone-in shows over more than three decades as a broadcaster, Anne Diamond is not easily shocked. But when she visited an audiologist last year to have her hearing tested, you could have knocked the renowned journalist and campaigner down with a feather.

“I was absolutely astonished when he told me my hearing was still within the normal range,” she says. “I have noticed a marked deterioration over the past four or five years, but apparently it’s not bad enough for me to need hearing aids.

“It made me realise just how much people suffer in this country with hearing loss. Because if I’m fine then I dread to think what life must be like for people who genuinely are classified as deaf.”

There is no doubt in her mind, however, that she did the right thing in having her hearing tested. For along with millions of others in this country, Anne is in the early stages of hearing loss, having already lost certain frequencies to the extent that it has a significant impact on her life. ‘Talkback’ devices – through which directors communicate with hosts – turned up too loudly have taken their toll.

Inspiring others

And, having faced the problem head on, she is determined to encourage and inspire others in her situation by speaking out.

“In the end I went to get checked out because my children were fed up of having to repeat themselves,” she says.

“I noticed that I had the TV turned up a touch louder than even my children would want. A conversation on the phone is always stressful for me.

“Mobiles in particular are really difficult because I don’t seem to be able to hear the things that other people can.

“It’s really noticeable when I’m a panellist on The Wright Stuff (on Channel 5) and people phone in to the show. Everyone else can hear the callers perfectly, but at times I really struggle.

“This isn’t a case of me being over sensitive – it’s a fact. The sound engineers say my earpiece is turned up far louder than anybody else’s. It reached the point earlier this month where I asked the producer to repeat what the caller was saying if I looked quizzical – so she did it and that worked fine.”

All of which will come as a surprise to viewers, given the trademark calm with which Anne continues to work.

The secret, according to Anne, is honesty: not attempting to conceal the issue and picking up advice about how to deal with it.

“The audiologist gave me some really good tips, even really obvious things like cupping your ears. It’s so incredibly effective it’s almost enough to make you go out and buy an ear trumpet.

“White noise is another thing to look out for. I was speaking at a big banqueting lunch the other day and I found the speech so much easier than the meal itself – because there was so much background chatter in this big hall I couldn’t make out what anyone was saying.

“It’s very stressful, so I can understand why people with hearing loss avoid these occasions altogether. That can be very isolating.

“It’s a bit of a family joke, but nowadays when we go out to a restaurant I deliberately pick a table with my back to the corner so I’ve got two reflective walls behind me.

“Even speaking about this makes me feel old, but that’s the reality and I’m not going to hide it.”

If this seems somewhat flippant, in truth she is anything but. Yet, with four boisterous children to keep her active, Anne is determined to avoid being held back by hearing loss. That’s why she is so supportive of the Action on Hearing Loss campaign to encourage more people to have their hearing tested."

Hearing matters

“I saw in your Hearing Matters report that the 10 million people in this country who have hearing loss will rise to nearly 15 million in the next 20 years unless we do something about it,” she says.

“That is a shocking statistic. It’s so easy to have your hearing tested – you can do it over the phone – and it’s so important to have early intervention.”

Anne admits to being equally appalled by the average of 10 years from when people first notice hearing loss to when they take action.

“We live in a very ageist society so I do understand,” she says. “But what’s the alternative? Suffering in an increasing level of silence? That’s crazy.

“We don’t write people off because they wear glasses, so why should hearing loss be any different?

“Perhaps people are scared because they don’t understand how far technology has come. Before I went to see the audiologist I did a search on Google and I was amazed by the quality of hearing aids out there.

“I’m such a gadget fanatic I was almost disappointed when he told me I didn’t need a hearing aid.”

“Having said that, I know the day may come when I need hearing aids, and now I know it’s nothing to be frightened of.

“It’s great that the onset of deafness is no longer something to fear. I just hope that in time we can get rid of the stigma attached to hearing loss once and for all.”

Watch a video of Anne explaining why she supports our campaign.

How to protect your hearing

Exposure to loud noise can gradually cause hearing loss or tinnitus. If, like Anne, you regularly use ‘talkback’ devices or, for example, wear a headset in a call centre, make sure you have a good-quality earpiece or headset. If the sound quality is good you shouldn’t have to increase the volume of the speaker through the headset. It is also important to give your ears regular breaks.

If you are worried about your hearing go to your GP. Taking action early can make it much easier to manage if you do find you are losing your hearing. Take our Hearing Check today.

Become a member

Join us and become a valued member of Action on Hearing Loss today. As a member, you will receive our award-winning magazine every two months, featuring in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Anne,  as well as our expert reviews of new products for people with hearing loss, news of our campaigns, and much more.