CENTRAL, U.K. -- A report, launched by The Ear Foundation in the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 October, is the first to illustrate a £30 billion saving per year to society if hearing loss was well managed and access to hearing technologies improved

These costs relate to both the direct costs of treating hearing loss, which are comparatively low, and the much larger costs of dealing with the health and social impacts of adults with hearing loss.

The report says that to improve access to today's life changing technology, and subsequently maximise its impact, requires adult hearing screening, shown to be cost-effective, along with joined up services across health and social care.

An evaluation of the overall costs of adult hearing loss would, the report says, dramatically alter the perception of the cost effectiveness of an adult screening programme. It would also change the basis on which cochlear implants and other interventions are currently commissioned.

Sue Archbold PhD, Chief Executive of The Ear Foundation and one of the report's authors says: "The impact of hearing loss in adulthood is little recognised, despite being linked with higher unemployment, poor health, depression, dementia and increased mortality. Deafness is unusual in that its effects cross the health, social care and education domains of service provision and affects every aspect of life. "

Research shows that today's hearing technologies offer the opportunity to significantly reduce this impact. Despite health and social care systems being under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and find savings, the high additional costs of not addressing hearing loss are rarely considered. Hearing loss is treated as a worrying lifestyle issue rather than a serious health issue with a heavy cost burden to the individual and society.

Sue Archbold says: "Although we now have the hearing and communication technologies which can address the health and social consequences of hearing loss and deafness better than ever before and the costs of delivering these technologies have been calculated, the costs of not delivering these technologies has not been explored before. The report addresses this issue."

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

· Hearing loss in the UK affects over 10 million people

· It is predicted that with an ageing population, by 2031 there will be more than 14.5 million people with hearing loss and over 2 million with severe hearing loss in the UK

· Adult onset hearing loss is currently in the top 20 causes of disease and will be in the top 10 of disease burdens in the UK by 2030, above cataracts and diabetes

· The direct costs to the NHS of addressing hearing loss were estimated to be £450 million in 2010/11. This figure does not take into account the proportion of adults with undiagnosed or unaddressed hearing loss, which is regarded to be at least as big again as the proportion that receive intervention

· The Ear Foundation is an independent charity supporting deaf people and their families to ensure they make the best use of hearing technology

For interviews, a copy of the report or further media information please contact: Louise Esplin, Esplin PR, Tel: 01235 850115 Mob: 07775 678237 email: esplinpr@gmail.com


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