Jeremy Clarkson has issued a health update explaining he is suffering from hearing issues and now requires hearing aids.

The Grand Tour host, whose Diddly Squat Farm is based near Chadlington, also revealed the same hearing issues could also mean he has double the chance of getting dementia.

Mr Clarkson spoke about his ailments in an article in The Sunday Times on Saturday revealing "most of my body doesn’t really work any more". 

Jumping over fences have now become a thing of the past for the former Top Gear presenter and he struggled to see less than three feet in front of him, although he said "I can still read not just a number plate from 75 yards away". 

Ham & High: Jeremy Clarkson used to host Top Gear with James May and Richard Hammond.Jeremy Clarkson used to host Top Gear with James May and Richard Hammond. (Image: PA/BBC)

Jeremy Clarkson reveals he needs hearing aids and could have double the chance of dementia

But it was the problems with his hearing Mr Clarkson said were causing the most problems. 

Writing in The Sunday Times, he said: "The worst problem I have, though, is with my ears. It’s not that I can’t hear anything.

"If you were to stand at the bottom of my garden and whisper: “Would you like a glass of wine?”, I’d be there in a jiffy.

"But if you stood right next to me and asked me to empty the dishwasher, I’d just get a Garfunkelly sound of silence.

"I also can’t hear the doorbell, but weirdly I can hear Lisa rustling her crisp packets when I’m watching a film, or fumbling about in her bedside drawer when I’m asleep."

Mr Clarkson added this had been going on for 12 years and at his most recent medical appointment he was told "hearing loss will double the chance of me catching dementia".

He joked: "Maybe it’s already happening. That would explain why I can never find my spectacles."

So he decided to get his hearing tested. 

Revealing the doctor's results, Mr Clarkson said: "After I’d asked him to speak up a bit, he talked about phonemes.

"Me neither, but apparently they have something to do with language and speech and sound, and it is all extremely interesting, if a bit un-understandable."

He continued: "Anyway, it turns out that my ears are still extremely good at hearing certain phonemes, like “d” and “g” and “n”.

"So if you are talking to me about my dog, or offering me a glass of wine, I’m right there in the room.

"But if you use softer phonemes like “sh”, I won’t hear you at all. I’m therefore not making it up when I say I can’t hear Lisa use the word “dishwasher” — I really and scientifically can’t. Tests have proved it."

As a result of this Mr Clarkson is now required to wear hearing aids. 



Talking about his hearing aids, he said: "They’re very snazzy and extremely clever. At drinks parties they will automatically dial down the background twaddle.

"I can also Bluetooth them to my phone, and while I haven’t read the instruction book yet (and never will), I bet you any money I will be able to program them to mute certain sounds.

“Dishwasher”, for example. I’ve managed for the past 12 years not hearing it — and I see no reason for it to be introduced now."