Over 50s should have access to hearing screening – national charity

Everyone aged over 50 should be able to access regular hearing screening in Ireland, a national charity has insisted.

Deaf and hard of hearing charity, Chime, claims the measure must form part of a delayed national hearing care plan, which the Government said would be in place by June last year.

As it prepares its annual hearing test for TDs and Senators at Leinster House on Tuesday – part of International Week of the Deaf – it said regular screening for over-50s would improve wider health and mitigate against cognitive decline.

An estimated 300,000 adults in Ireland live with significant hearing loss.

Chime chief executive, Mark Byrne, said: “Hearing loss is often treated as an inevitable part of getting older, but early identification and appropriate intervention can make a significant difference to health, independence and quality of life.”

The organisation says the Government should outline a clear pathway for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, from early diagnosis and assessment, through to treatment and the provision of hearing aids, assistive technology and rehabilitation.

It points to research from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) in 2023, highlighting a gap between hearing difficulties and access to technology, with only a fifth of older adults in Ireland who report fair or poor hearing using a hearing aid.

TILDA also found that more than one in 10 older adults who needed hearing services had not accessed them.

The charity said these findings underline the need for earlier identification of hearing loss and better access to appropriate care.

It has called for screening for over-50s to be included in the Department of Health’s national hearing care plan, which it says must be published without further delay.

The World Health Organisation recommends regular hearing screening for adults from the age of 50 and has called on governments to develop comprehensive hearing care plans.

Chime states that while Ireland recognises the importance of early identification through hearing checks for children, access to hearing care is uneven.

The most recent HSE audiology waiting-list figures available to the charity show 24,223 people waiting for audiology services, including 12,475 children, with 40% waiting more than a year.

Chime estimates around one third of audiology provision is through the HSE, with the remainder through the private sector.

This means many adults must meet the cost of hearing care themselves, with hearing aids costing between 1,000 euro and 4,000 euro per pair.

“TILDA findings show there is a significant gap between people experiencing hearing difficulties and accessing hearing technology,” added Mr Byrne.

“If only one in five older people reporting fair or poor hearing are using a hearing aid, we need to ask whether the current approach identifies and supports people early enough.

“There is also a growing body of evidence linking hearing loss with wider health and wellbeing, including cognitive decline and dementia. That should make hearing care a much greater public health priority.

“But screening is only the beginning. People need a clear pathway from identification through assessment, treatment, hearing technology and ongoing support.”