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BBC and ITN newsreader Lewis Vaughan Jones, 37, feared his presenting career was over after doctors told him the sudden loss of hearing in his left ear was permanent.

Vaughan Jones told BBC Radio 5 live it was his darkest moment, and also spoke of the difficulties of coming to terms with a hearing aid and his embarrassment in social situations, but has received messages of support since his first appearance on air with a hearing aid.

Having had good hearing all his life until getting a cold which left him with the inability to hear out of one ear, Vaughan Jones walked out of hospital “completely bamboozled” after being told the sudden hearing loss and the tinnitus was permanent. He told BBC Breakfast that doctors found his left eardrum was no longer working and the nerve which takes sound to the brain had given up.

The charity Action of Hearing says that in the UK about 11m people have some form of hearing loss, and only 2m use hearing aids. It is estimated that there are about 6.7m people who would benefit from hearing aids.

Prior to the hearing aid being fitted, Vaughan Jones said the situation had left him frustrated and embarrassed.

As many of those with a hearing loss can relate to, Vaughan Jones explained, “There’s only so many time you can interrupt. You feel embarrassed so you withdraw.” He also described how he would smile and nod along when spending time with friends and family, feeling unable to engage and as though he was missing out.

The use of a hearing aid has been a massive help and has allowed him to return to work. However, the return to screen was a noisy one as he can hear the director and correspondents through an earpiece in his right ear and an amplified, distorted version of his own voice through the hearing aid on the left. Vaughan Jones explained how the brain will learn to quieten down the distortion although getting used to wearing a hearing aid hadn’t come easy, adding “I was self-conscious about it. My hair is slightly longer so that’s a reflection that I might have been trying to hide it.”

Now back on air, Vaughan Jones wants to show everyone he is wearing one, “Theirs is no logical reason why I shouldn’t wear my hearing aid on air and feel good about it.”

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