Larry Lamb suffers with his hearing
Larry Lamb is helping to reach out to an estimated four million people in the UK that would benefit from hearing aids.
The former Eastenders actor has helped to launch the Sound Check of the Nation campaign, which is the first joint initiative by Action on Hearing Loss and partner Specsavers hearing centres. 
Larry says: "I lost my hearing almost overnight after contracting malaria in Senegal. That’s unusual but, no matter how you lose it, the result is a feeling of complete isolation. Everything becomes so much more difficult and there’s a temptation not to bother. It’s easier just to tune out.
"I couldn’t believe that there are four million people in the UK who are ignoring their hearing loss. The solution is out there and it starts with a simple hearing test, which is free. So don’t suffer in silence."
The partnership aims to provide one million free hearing checks nationwide by October 2012 in-store and online, as well as a nationwide tour.
Evidence suggests that many people with hearing loss are not taking action. Research by Specsavers hearing centres has shown that one in three people with hearing difficulties are too embarrassed to wear a hearing aid and refuse to visit an audiologist.
Jackie Ballard, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, says: "According to our research, there is, on average, a ten year delay between someone recognising their symptoms of hearing loss and getting treatment. Through our Sound Check the Nation campaign we want to encourage people to act now and take our hearing check to get the life changing benefits from hearing aids sooner”.
Mathew Gully, director of Specsavers hearing centres, says: "We shall be working together with Action on Hearing Loss to remove the stigma associated with hearing loss. It’s time to normalise it, much as Specsavers has done with glasses, by offering people easy access to the best possible solutions."
Tagged in Health Larry Lamb