Page 10 - Primary Care Audiology

Invisible disability

“Hearing loss has often been referred to as an ‘invisible disability’, not
just because of the lack of visible symptoms, but because it has long
been stigmatised in communities and ignored by policymakers.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
Director-General, World Health Organization 20

Policymakers have historically underestimated the individual
and societal impact of ignoring untreated hearing loss in an
ageing population.
Despite being an ‘invisible disability’, adult hearing loss already
affects 11.6 million people in the UK, and this is set to grow to 14.2
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million by 2035. This has made hearing loss the third leading cause
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of years lived with disability (YLD) in the UK.
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We know addressing this is affordable because NICE clinical and
economic research has shown that early diagnosis and support
for hearing loss with hearing aids is one of the most cost-effective
interventions in the NHS.
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The challenge is that the increasing demand from adult patients has
made the hospital-based model of audiology unsustainable. As a
result, it has become more difficult for hospital-based audiologists to
provide safe, effective and timely care to children and adults due to
system and capacity strains. This is why a coordinated approach to
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structural remodelling of services is needed.
Without action, the risks and costs associated with hearing loss will
increase rapidly as our population ages.

10 NCHA Primary care audiology – accessible ear and hearing care for all 11