Abstract Introduction Hearing loss is a long-term, progressive condition that affects approximately 18 million UK adults. It is especially prevalent among older adults. It can substantially impair quality-of-life and is associated with an increased risk of depression, loneliness, falls, and dementia. Evidence suggests that hearing loss is a substantial, yet frequently overlooked, barrier to accessing healthcare. This research aimed to examine the challenges experienced by adults living with hearing loss in UK primary care services and to develop recommendations for overcoming these challenges. Method The participants (N = 413) included adults living with hearing loss and health professionals. They were recruited from an internal participant database, professional societies and networks, and charities. Their experiences were examined via a survey (n = 400) and individual and group interviews (n = 45). Recommendations for improving access to primary care were developed through a series of co-design workshops with an expert panel (n = 18). Results Adults living with hearing loss can experience challenges (e.g. communication barriers, lack of awareness, facilities, or interpreters) at every stage of accessing and using primary care services (e.g. booking appointments, obtaining referrals and interventions, adhering to care plans). This can impact physical, mental, and social functioning, as well as privacy and safety. Recommendations for overcoming these challenges included staff training, hearing loss champions, standardised communication protocols, addressing the psychosocial impact of hearing loss (e.g. counselling, support groups), and utilising technology (e.g. speech-to-text applications). Perceived impediments to implementing these recommendations included time and financial constraints and prioritisation of other health conditions. Conclusions This study provides novel insights on the experiences of adults living with hearing loss in UK primary care services and has key implications for health professionals and policymakers. The findings suggest that, despite legal requirements (e.g. Accessible Information Standard) and efforts to raise awareness, many people living with hearing loss remain under-served in primary care.
Heffernan et al. (Sun,) studied this question.