Enhancing Global Hearing Health Policy Through Pioneering Research

Hearing loss is a major public health challenge, costing the English economy over £30 billion annually. Yet, estimates of hearing loss severity and local health needs in England are still based on projected age demographics from the NHS Hearing Loss Data Tool, rather than actual health data. These estimates, which have never been validated with real-world evidence, continue to guide local resource allocation decisions, despite being outdated.

This research has uncovered significant discrepancies in hearing loss prevalence among adults with similar age profiles, demonstrating that factors such as socioeconomic status and geographic location significantly affect hearing health outcomes. For example, the findings revealed that nearly 200,000 more people aged 50-80 years in England are estimated to have hearing loss than current NHS data suggests. Given the critical links between hearing loss, cognitive decline, and mental health, it is imperative to develop more accurate data on hearing loss across diverse populations.

This project aims were to:

a) Quantify, for the first time, the severity of hearing loss using real-world data from English primary care, and

b) Investigate localised patterns and deviations from the NHS’s existing hearing loss estimates.

By analysing anonymised longitudinal medical records, this research has uncovered socio-spatial inequalities in hearing health. It has provided more precise data to inform public health strategies and improve resource allocation for hearing health services. Notably, this research demonstrated that current NHS decisions are based on obsolete data collected nearly four decades ago, failing to reflect the actual needs of today’s population.

The consequences of relying on outdated data were starkly illustrated when North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) restricted access to hearing aids for patients with mild or moderate hearing loss. This decision set a precedent, with several other areas proposing similar cuts, limiting access for thousands of individuals who would benefit from hearing aids. After eight years of advocacy, on Friday, 23 September 2022, the NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU Media Team announced the removal of these restrictions. This historic reversal was made possible by my research, which provided the necessary evidence to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), strengthening the case for change. As a result, access to hearing aids for everyone who needs them in the UK is now protected—a decision that will benefit over 5 million older adults with disabling hearing loss.

The pioneering findings from this research have the potential to revolutionise hearing health policy and practice on an international scale. Currently, many countries rely on population demographics rather than actual epidemiological data to estimate hearing loss prevalence and inform national policies. By influencing policy and practice globally, this research can drive significant improvements in hearing health, enhancing the quality of life and health outcomes worldwide. Additionally, ongoing work includes conducting the first situational analysis of Ear and Hearing Care in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to inform national health policies, strategies and plans across 21 countries and territories.