Chime, Ireland’s National charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, will call for hearing screening for everyone over 50 at an event in Leinster House on Tuesday next, September 22
Chime will test the hearing of TDs and Senators at Leinster House between 10am and 4pm as part of International Week of the Deaf.
And it will address TDs and Senators in the AV Room on the delay in publication of a long promised Department of Health National Hearing Care Plan at 1.00pm. The introduction of hearing screening for everyone over 50 would lessen the risk of dementia, the country’s leading Deaf and Hard of Hearing charity says.
The move, to bring Ireland in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, should come as part of a long promised Department of Health National Hearing Care Plan.
The delay in publishing the Plan, originally due in June 2025, has been criticised by Chime, Ireland’s National charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, which says over-50s screening would increase awareness and allow early intervention, preventing consequences of unaddressed hearing loss.
These include dementia, depression, social isolation and overall decline in physical and mental health.
Chime says there are approximately 300,000 adults in Ireland with significant hearing loss, but research data indicates hearing aid take up here is one third less than in the UK.
It will stress an urgent need for the promised Plan, and highlight the high and recurring costs of hearing aids, assistive technology, and interpretation services, as well as indirect financial impacts.
The most recent HSE audiology waiting list figures available to Chime show 24,223 on the list with 12,475 of them children. Forty per-cent have been waiting over a year. The HSE currently only provides an estimated 34% of audiology services, with the remaining 66% covered privately, where there is no statutory regulation.
While there are no waiting list for private treatment, cost is a major barrier.
Hearing aids cost from €1,000-€4,000 per-pair, though a PRSI grant of €1,000 is available.
The WHO has called on governments to develop national hearing care plans and states all adults over-50 should be screened regularly.
It estimates that for every €1 invested, states could expect a return of almost €16, saved over 10 years, through direct health cost savings, improved quality of life, productivity and independence.
