According to a report published recently by the Royal National Institue for Deaf People Scotland, those suffering from a hearing loss are not receiving all the support they need at NHS Audiology departments.
The charity highlights a lack of deaf awareness among some staff, leaving a number of patients unhappy at the care they received.

 
Of patients surveyed, 45 per cent said they could not hear their name being called in the waiting room, while many reported that audiologists continued to speak to them after they had removed their hearing aid.

While most patients were given technical information about how to use their hearing aid, the vast majority of those surveyed said they were given no information about other support services, such as lip-reading classes and hard of hearing support groups, which could help them come to terms with their hearing loss.

Some 758,000 people in Scotland are deaf or hard of hearing and 160,000 have hearing aids, a total that is set to rise as the population ages.
Delia Henry, the director of RNID Scotland, said: “If someone can’t hear, they are very isolated. The psychological aspect is very often forgotten.
“What we want to see is more practical and emotional support; that is very important for people to get the most out of their hearing aids and give them a better quality of life.”
She acknowledged that audiology departments had limited resources, but said: “If we give people the right information and support at the right time, it should create lower demands on audiology in the long term.”

A total of 405 people gave their views on audiology services by answering a questionnaire or taking part in a focus group; eight out of 14 heads of audiology also responded as did voluntary organisations and hard of hearing groups.

While Quality Standards state that service users should receive information about the hearing test before their first appointment, only 11% of respondents said they did.
Quality Standards specify that patients should be given a follow-up appointment within 12 weeks of the initial consultation, but only 42% of survey respondents had had one.
Social services can provide information on technology such as telephone and doorbell adaptations, but only 10% of respondents said they received information about this.
Only three per cent were given information about hard of hearing support groups, four per cent about voluntary organisations and seven per cent about lipreading classes.
A third of respondents said they had tinnitus, but 84% had received no information about coping strategies from audiology services.

At Hidden Hearing, we are aware of the anxieties and upset caused by a hearing loss which is why we do everything possible to make your experience with us, an easy, informative and rewarding one.  When a hearing loss is present, we consider all available possibilities and stock a wide selection of assistive listening devices which can help in and around the home.  We also stock a wide selection of Tinnitus relief products as well as maskers to help reduce the annoying symptoms of this condition.

We offer as standard a 6 week follow up appointment which is dedicated to ensuring our clients are getting the best out of their hearing aid and it is fitting well into everyday life.  With over 40 years experience in helping the hard of hearing live the life they want, with the hearing they have we can be trusted to make the road to a life of clearer hearing a pleasant one.

To book your annual hearing check with Hidden Hearing, call 0800 740 8706 or book online now!