By the year 2035, a projection of over 15 million people in the UK will be suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus and deafness. While the growing percentage on these conditions is inevitable in relation to the ageing population, spending allocation for this specific medical area has dropped more than significantly.
Not only did research funding and efforts decrease to less than 1 percent, but services also have increasing problems. Reports of delays and cancelled appointments grew by almost a fifth in just a year. Most patients were refused free hearing aids in seven localities while those who were given the device were only provided for one ear.
In the UK today, one in six adults of 11 million people are living with hearing loss.
In the light of their findings, charity organisation Action on Hearing Loss appeals for the protection of the hearing care services under the National Health Service (NHS) from budget reduction.
The group's chief executive Paul Breckell says, "The Government needs to intervene now to stop the shocking cuts to hearing aids, which has happened in North Staffordshire already, which runs contrary to NHS clinical evidence as they keep people in work and avoid them being socially isolated."
Concerns have also been growing over related medical fallouts of hearing loss. This condition, in fact, has the potential to cause the doubled risk of developing depression, anxiety and similar mental health issues.
According to the findings, "There is now strong evidence that mild hearing loss doubles the risk of developing dementia - with moderate hearing loss leading to three times the risk, and severe hearing loss five times the risk."
The study further says that the cure for hearing loss is within reach if only the government would recognise how much is at stake in this area. While funding requirements for R&D are not inexpensive, the resulting improvements will be more than worth the effort.
