Page 12 - Primary Care Audiology

Adult hearing loss

Unsupported adult hearing loss is a serious and growing public
health challenge. Left unaddressed, it increases the risk of:

Dementia and cognitive decline
Depression and other mental health issues
Unemployment
Exiting employment early

Social isolation and loneliness.
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Hearing aids are the primary evidence-based intervention for
permanent adult hearing loss. They have been shown to improve
quality of life and reduce risks associated with hearing loss. NICE
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guidelines also show that early diagnosis and management of adult
hearing loss with hearing aids is one of the most cost-effective
interventions in the NHS. 24
In fact, if a hearing aid were a drug, it would be a blockbuster
which the NHS would prescribe proactively at scale, like statins
and other life-preserving interventions.

Yet, the barriers to accessing NHS-funded primary care audiology
contribute to a lack of familiarisation and public awareness about the
risks of hearing loss and the benefits of early diagnosis and support.

There is now an urgent need for the NHS to support more adults,
especially those over 50 at higher risk of hearing loss, to have their
ear and hearing health checked regularly as part of an active ageing
strategy. We must also ensure that everyone can access audiology
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services based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

12 NCHA Primary care audiology – accessible ear and hearing care for all 13