Hearing tests for over 55s?
28/11/2007
Government advisors are advocating that everyone aged 55 and over should be screened for hearing problems. This follows a nationwide NHS trial of 35,000 people aged 55-74 which found that routine hearing tests offered “substantial benefits” and rep-resented good value for money.
Professor Adrian Davis, who led the research and who is director of the Medical Research Council Hearing and Commun-ication Group, reported that more than one in 10 people in the trial were found to have a moderate to severe hearing problem. Identifying these people earlier rather than later could make a huge difference to their quality of life.
On average people are waiting for 10-15 years and living with hearing difficulties before they go to their doctor: a simple 30-second test is enough to identify those who need a hearing aid.
The Department of Health has said that it “would look at the evidence”. Hearing aid services are currently struggling to cope with demand for digital aids as patients switch from old analogue models. “Once we have the capacity, a screening programme is the next step,” said Professor Davis, adding that: “For the first time we have come up with a really clear-cut picture that screening is incredibly effective and cost effective.”
Emma Harrison, from the deaf and hard of hearing charity RNID, has supported the findings, saying that the average age for a first hearing test is over 70 - but 60% of people already have a significant hearing loss by that age.
“Widespread screening could improve the quality of life for millions of people whose hearing loss might otherwise go undetected for years, as it is easier to adjust to the benefits of a digital hearing aid if you have only recently started to lose your hearing.
“However, it is essential that the current long waiting times for hearing specialists are addressed and that the stigma of hearing loss is challenged, so that eight million people in the UK suffering from age related hearing loss can enjoy life-changing digital hearing aids.
“In the meantime, for a quick and easy check up, call the RNID's telephone hearing test on 0845 600 5555.”
The report comes in the wake of findings by the RNID that research funding into hearing loss does not match the impact it makes upon people. Hearing loss costs the country £13.5 billion in lost earnings each year but just 0.1 per cent of that sum - £16.5 million - is spent on research that could help people to hear.
The RNID says that drastic under-funding threatens the development of life-changing treatments. And, with hearing loss the third most common chronic condition in older people after arthritis and high blood pressure, RNID says pharma companies are missing out on a potential drug development market worth £750 million.
The charity is calling on drug companies and voluntary and public sector science funders to change the lives of millions of deaf and hard of hearing people by investing in research to prevent or treat hearing loss – and end the social withdrawal, isolation and depression it causes.
Dr Mark Downs, RNID’s executive director of technology and enterprise, said: “The cost of hearing loss to the UK economy is billions – the cost to people’s quality of life is immeasurable.
“And with an ageing population and high levels of social noise, the problem is set to increase.”
RNID - www.rnid.org.uk