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RNID urges Government to address the hidden crisis of hearing loss - 29 June 2009

The UK urgently needs a hearing screening programme to reduce isolation and poor health for older people, RNID has said today.

Hearing loss affects one in seven of the adult UK population and 55% of people over 60. In its new report Hidden crisis: why millions keep quiet about hearing loss, charity RNID outlines how routine NHS checks could motivate people to address hearing loss early – preventing them feeling ‘cut off’ from friends and family and developing depression. It would also tackle the estimated £13billion lost to the UK economy every year through unemployment linked to hearing loss.

Launching the report at the Strategies for an Ageing Population conference, RNID Chief Executive, Jackie Ballard, said:

"Around 4 million people in the UK could benefit from wearing a hearing aid, but don't get the help they need. People tell us they are worried to admit they have a hearing loss, it's not seen as 'normal' – there's a stigma around it. More must be done to highlight this hidden crisis and encourage people to value their hearing. We find it staggering that it still takes people around 10 to 15 years before they address their hearing loss, compared to around three years for sight problems.

"A national hearing screening programme could tackle this stigma, make it easier to check hearing and help the wearing of hearing aids to become more widespread and accepted. We’re calling on the Government to take immediate action, recognise the social and economic benefits of hearing screening and invest in a programme to support independence and improve the quality of life for millions."

For further media information, contact:

Annie Goss, RNID Media Manager, 020 7296 8091 or annie.goss@rnid.org.uk.

Notes for editors:

For a copy of the embargoed report Hidden crisis: why millions keep quiet about hearing loss, contact Annie Goss (details above)
The report also recommends:

An increase in the capacity of audiology departments to enable audiologists to spend more time with patients and to deliver a system more tailored to patients' needs.
More investment in and a focus on rehabilitation, ensuring that hearing aid users make the most of their equipment, including other assistive devices, and benefit from alternative methods of communication.
A review of the information needs of people fitted with hearing aids and an assessment and what investment would be needed to meet these.
Primary Care Trusts should ensure that follow-up appointments should be offered routinely to patients, as per Department of Health guidelines

Jackie Ballard is speaking at the Strategies for an Ageing Population conference at the business Design Centre on 30 June.
4 million people in the UK aren’t wearing hearing aids when they could benefit from them - from medical research council findings.
£13billion lost to the UK economy every year through unemployment linked to hearing loss – from Bridget Shield, Evaluation of the Social and Economic Costs of Hearing Impairment, October 2006.
RNID is the largest charity working to change the world for the nine million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. We do this with the help of our members by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.
For more information about RNID visit www.rnid.org.uk (external link), contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email information@rnid.org.uk
RNID is proud to be The Co-operative Charity of the Year for 2009. As part of the partnership, we are encouraging everyone to check their hearing – visit www.rnid.org.uk/hearingmatters (external link).

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