How many countries offer free Hearing aids.

Examples of countries that offer free or low-cost hearing aids:

United States:

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) provides funding for research and development of hearing aids, but it does not offer free hearing aids directly.  Some non-profit organizations, like the Starkey Hearing Foundation, offer free or low-cost hearing aids to individuals who cannot afford them.

Canada:

The Canadian Hearing Society offers free hearing aids to eligible individuals through its "Hearing Aid Program" in certain provinces.  Some provincial governments, like Ontario, offer subsidized hearing aids to eligible individuals through the "Assistive Devices Program".

Australia:

The Australian government's "Assistance for Eldest Residents (AER)" program provides financial assistance for hearing aids, including some free or low-cost options.  Non-profit organizations, like the Australian Hearing Society, also offer free or low-cost hearing aids to eligible individuals.

United Kingdom:

The National Health Service (NHS) provides free hearing aids to eligible individuals who have a diagnosed hearing loss.  Some charities, like the British Academy of Audiology, offer free or low-cost hearing aids to individuals who cannot afford them.

Sweden:

The Swedish government's "Hearing Aid Program" provides free hearing aids to eligible individuals who have a diagnosed hearing loss.

Finland:

The Finnish government's "Hearing Aid Program" provides free hearing aids to eligible individuals who have a diagnosed hearing loss.

Denmark:

The Danish government's "Hearing Aid Program" provides free hearing aids to eligible individuals who have a diagnosed hearing loss.

New Zealand:

The New Zealand government's "Subsidies for Hearing Aids" program provides financial assistance for hearing aids, including some free or low-cost options.

Ireland:

The Irish government's "Hearing Aid Program" provides free hearing aids to eligible individuals who have a diagnosed hearing loss.  These programs may have specific eligibility criteria, such as age, income level, or disability status. Additionally, some countries may have other programs or initiatives that offer free or low-cost hearing aids.

Nine Stats.

 9 Statistics many deaf and HI activists may prefer to ignore.

(1)   Statistics from (Sign Health, a leading charity for deaf people in the UK), the annual cost of providing British Sign Language (BSL) services to the UK is estimated to be around £93 million per year. This cost includes professional interpreters, technology, education and training, as well as support services for the Deaf community.

(2)   According to a report by the UK charity Action on Hearing Loss, hearing loss in the UK costs an estimated £30.71 billion per year. This includes costs related to healthcare, social care, productivity loss, and welfare support for individuals with hearing loss.

(3)    Approximately 2 million people with hearing loss rely on hearing aids in the UK, and 3 million others who need them won't wear them.

(4)    A survey conducted by Action on Hearing Loss in the UK in 2019, suggest that approximately 1.7 million people with hearing loss rely on mobile phone apps to assist them with communication.

(5)    Official statistics from the UK's National Health Service (NHS), state, there are approximately 11 million people with hearing loss in the UK. This includes individuals of all ages who are registered with the NHS for support and assistance with their hearing loss.  It is not stated how many are defined as, or needing help and support.

(6)    No specific data available on the exact number of people with hearing loss who are identified as 'good' lip-readers in the UK. Lip-reading abilities can vary greatly among individuals with hearing loss, and it is estimated that only a minor percentage of the population have strong lip-reading skills. Lip-reading is only effective to a certain extent and should not be solely relied upon as a communication method for those with hearing loss.

(7)     As of 2021, there are 55 deaf clubs in the UK. No statistic records numbers of membership.  deaf clubs are located across various regions in the UK, with concentrations mainly, in cities such as London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

(8)     As of 2021, there are no specific statistics available regarding the number of hearing impaired clubs in the UK, or ones that do not use signing as a primary form of communication. These types of clubs may vary in size and scope, ranging from local community groups to national organizations.

(9)    While progress has been made in promoting inclusion and accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the UK through various campaigns and initiatives, there is still much work to be done to ensure they have equal access to services, opportunities, and support. No major successes have been highlighted in surveys so far.

Coming to a Hub near you?

What does your 'Hub' contribute to the deaf way of life?

What they say it is:

Deaf 'hubs' usually refer to deaf communities or centres where deaf individuals come together to socialize, communicate, and support each other. (Actually they don't, they replace deaf clubs).  These hubs are often physical locations, such as community centres or schools for the deaf, where deaf individuals can connect with others who share their experiences and language (such as sign language). They may offer various services and resources specific to the deaf community, such as sign language classes, social events, educational programs, and advocacy support. Deaf hubs serve as important spaces for deaf individuals to feel a sense of belonging and belongingness within their community.

The reality:

Deaf hubs have emerged as replacements for social clubs that have been closing down due to a lack of funding. Deaf individuals have shifted their focus towards seeking funding for cultural activities, after Local Authorities and Social Service areas, pulled funding from the deaf clubs, due to cost-cutting policies.  A Deaf 'Hub' isn't, a social deaf CLUB.  It's make up, varies via post code and validity of deaf involvement.  Such Hubs have been more successful in attracting support. They receive funds from sources like e.g. the Lottery, local government, to promote deaf culture and language, particularly British Sign Language (BSL). 

However, areas like the British Deaf Association are concerned about the lack of academic resources supporting the effectiveness of these hubs in promoting deaf culture or BSL, and with far lesser involvement by deaf people.  The increasing usage, and success of assistive devices to hear, e.g. Hearing Aids, and cochlear implantation is seriously affecting a deaf desire to use sign language, as more integration and mainstreaming takes place of deaf youth.  

As a result, hubs are primarily focusing on promoting BSL as an academic endeavour, and struggle to involve the wider deaf community, creating cultural awareness via remote. 

More able deaf, are targeting younger people and collaborating with educational institutions to serve as 'advisors'.  As are professional interpreters of deaf people, hoping to get work in educational establishments.   Neither area is able currently, to comply with teaching requirements in mainstream settings.   The reality is the BSL-using  deaf, are divorced via the promotion of their own culture and language, by non-deaf,  and the 'business' approach of areas with little links to their community.  BSL has become a saleable commodity, that doesn't need the deaf involvement.

Who needs to Campaign, we don't!

The NADP National Association of Deafened People replied to our questions:

ATR:  'Why is there little campaigning being done at all by acquired deaf and others with hearing loss?  BSL campaigns are running at 31 this month already, even about world hearing (?!), whilst hearing loss campaigns are in single  figures over the last 12 months, despite the overwhelming majority of sufferers by over 1,000s to 1?'

NADP:  Hello. There is no specific research, but quite a lot 'discussions' related to low level of acquired deafness and hearing loss  campaigning. Many feel, the low level comes from huge diversity of how we communicate.  Born deaf people have 1 single goal - BSL.

ATR:   And the hearing loss sector has none? Maybe the fact there are paid jobs, courses, and funding involved with BSL that makes this rarely used format BY deaf people so attractive to others?  There is not even a valid qualification to lip-read via classes, so that format has something to aspire to.   Is it true, the RNID felt it was becoming impossible to promote hearing loss because the hearing loss campaign terminology was too positive?  That funders are more willing to offer funds if 'support, and Help' was involved, but not for real empowerment, and more medical intervention to address hearing loss and deafness?  The hearing loss area has  adapted technology instead? That is is diversity? Born deaf can't adapt to technology?  It doesn't answer the query as to where £6B a year is allegedly going our way, nobody but charity ever sees. 

I'd rather hoped the NADP would challenge the shambles and bias, that is UK deaf awareness, which is not about us at all, and with the RNID and BDA being the leaders of disinformation, sadly. E.G. 11m DEAF and hard of hearing, is a total lie is it not, even the Pinocchio's at the BDA do not claim those figures. No distinctions are being made between this 'political wing' of deafness, (the 'Deaf'), and the majority, i.e. US, despite distinct cultural, rights campaigning, and language differences.  Hard of hearing and acquired deaf complain the sole support they are being offered is sign language, a format they don't use, and don't need or want, and this is down to misleading support claims by UK leading charities, influencing health and 999 systems via bias.

The fact such charities are their OWN source of statistics, isn't queried, either by the state, or by rank and file, why?  Can the NADP demand that awareness correctly  identifies people accurately?  As this otherwise suggests we are  getting more support than we actually are, and, the wrong sort, as it is for a different sector entirely.   There is NO established NHS hearing loss area in Wales except for a f ew 100 BSL users, and none for 3/400K (RNID own estimates), of those with hearing loss, not even a deaf school exists there..  On the face of it, we are all labelled BSL users.  The ASLI  also clarified that there is no support for lip-readers in Wales, we can't ALL be using apps.

NADP: Thank you for contacting us....................

LEST WE FORGET?

Alzheimer's researchers are working to understand the links between dementia and hearing loss in a project run by the University of Manchester and supported by Alzheimer's Research UK and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. It has been estimated that if mid-life hearing loss can be eliminated then it would lead to a 9% reduction in dementia cases.  Alzheimer's Research UK said: "The team will determine if dementia is directly caused by hearing loss, if dementia is an indirect consequence of social isolation caused by hearing problems, or if there are other biological factors that increase the risk of both hearing loss and dementia.

"This information about the mechanisms behind the link between hearing loss and dementia will help us to understand what the most effective strategies are for reducing dementia risk. It will also assess the potential benefits of hearing aids in reducing the risk of developing dementia, using the same datasets Hearing loss affects over two thirds of people over the age of 65 and the fact that hearing loss is so common means that it could have a large impact on the overall number of people developing dementia, according to Alzheimer's Research UK.

This global project, headed by Dr Piers Dawes at the University of Manchester, will use information from thousands of volunteers from the US, UK and a number of European countries. Each volunteer has provided data for up to 17 years. These data sets are packed with details about participants' hearing, their use of hearing aids, scores from memory and thinking tests, brain scan images, levels of physical and mental activity, and health information. This valuable resource allows the team to explore the connection between hearing loss and the risk of dementia.

The aim is to develop a much deeper understanding of how hearing loss and dementia are linked. Dr Dawes' team want to determine if dementia is directly caused by hearing loss, if dementia is an indirect consequence of social isolation caused by hearing problems, or if there are other biological factors that increase the risk of both hearing loss and dementia.

ATR COMMENT:

Why isn't the research covering the born deaf? The last attempt in 2022, seems a bit random of that area, a video and some photos, and an inability to utilise carers experiences of BSL Alzheimer patients for real-time data.  Researching only 17 years appears to ignore how Alzheimer's affects those born with little hearing.  Are they already suggesting acquired loss is the trigger and not the genetic or inherent loss?  Poor hearing aid responses? Most of those ATR knows suffering Alzheimer were from the deaf school areas and born with little hearting at all, wore no viable hearing aids as such..

Another issue is how testing for potential Alzheimer's is done, currently, it is based on a hearing experience.  An experience that cannot be applied to those without it.  I just wonder how many HEARING can recite the 93 times table?  Or Name the minister for education in the UK? Awareness is a huge issue too, given the deaf and their awareness relates only to the deaf experiences, not the hearing ones. if they consult dedicated charity data sets, they won't get unbiased information that way.  Academic attainment can vary hugely between those who are born deaf, and those who acquire it, which is also relative as to WHEN hearing loss starts to manifest itself.

To be accurate, researchers need the 'before and after' data, is 17 years relative to that?  When researchers are only asking NOW?  Data needs to cover social and societal backgrounds too, and today bears little relation to 17 years ago either.  Also huge advances in hearing aid, and cochlear implants has improved hugely in that time too. Research must be mindful it doesn't 'arm' areas of the 'Deaf' community activisms, with an excuse to express even more 'concern' about deafness itself being addressed properly, given activism has attacked Hearing aid, cochlear implantations, and the use of speech, among other means medical and educational areas have supported or   gone with, even genetic manipulation.

Ditching the politics of deafness and language is obviously why, the research is NOT researching in more depth the born deaf cultural membership? To show balance it must surely?  Or it plays into the Deaf versus deaf thing.

Who needs BSL?

A deaf Eastbourne boy  [LINK] has called on the Chancellor to invest in life transforming therapy

11-year-old Sam Callaghan is urging the Chancellor to make a commitment to invest in the specialist therapy which supported him to listen and speak and allowed him to have the same opportunities as his hearing peers. Sam, from Eastbourne, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf as a baby and his parents were both devastated and scared for what the future would bring.

Now Sam is flourishing at secondary school, loves science and making films, and is always talking thanks to the specialist Auditory Verbal therapy programme he attended as a young child. To mark World Hearing Day (March 3) and ahead of the UK Government’s Spring Budget (March 6) Sam is urging the Chancellor to make a commitment to invest the necessary funding, of just over £2million a year for 10 years, to ensure all deaf children under five have the opportunity to access Auditory Verbal therapy which enabled him to thrive at school and beyond. 

ATR: Which is cheap enough given the many millions the state has thrown at BSL and culture to no avail. 

Mum Joanna explained: “When we received Sam’s diagnosis we were so worried about his future. Would he make friends? How would he get on at school and develop interests in everything life has to offer? “But thanks to Auditory Verbal therapy he is absolutely flying. He is a real chatterbox and never stops talking especially about the things he loves like science and he is doing brilliantly at secondary school. We will always be so grateful for the support we had and how Auditory Verbal therapy transformed his life.”

More than 90% of deaf children who could benefit from an Auditory Verbal therapy programme are currently unable to access it and there are only 31 specialist Auditory Verbal Therapists in the whole of the UK.  This is despite research by YouGov showing that 80% of adults in the South East of England believe Auditory Verbal therapy should be available to all deaf children via publicly funded services (ie, the NHS), while only 2% think it should be paid for privately.

Auditory Verbal therapy is a robust, evidence-based approach that supports deaf children to learn how to make sense of the sound they receive through their hearing technology (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) so they can learn to talk like their hearing friends. Research shows that more than 80% of deaf children who attended an Auditory Verbal therapy programme for at least two years graduated with spoken language on a par with their hearing peers – this figure rose to 97% for children without additional needs.

LINK (2) 

SS 'Hearing Loss'

 "10,000 Welsh patients waiting for hearing aids"

It's essential hearing aids are issued quickly.  Going deaf costs the UK in excess of £6 Billon a year and that is just deaf support, that doesn't take into account 10m have hearing loss, or, helping 3 million with severe loss, who are refusing to wear one, because they experience ridicule from peers.  

Most of those with hearing loss suffer traumas, and many difficulties getting a job, or holding one down,  managing a social life, even accessing the 999 services, is a lottery for all except a few deaf who use sign language, estimated at 6-700, which pale into insignificance given Wales has near 3/400,000 with  hearing loss issues, who are the majority area of hearing loss NOT being supported in Wales at all, as hearing loss, is a 'loss loser' to charities who raise funds to support them, indeed many in Wales have pulled out of doing it concentrating on sign users instead.  

It is overkill, given Wales hasn't a deaf school, and very few who need specialist schooling either. It is a total and false economy to ignore hearing loss, be it in Adults, or children, as if it cannot be managed or addressed then the NHS/999 and the Senedd will have to foot the bills for their care and support as the hearing gets worse. Which they aren't even doing for the minority who have been deemed eligible for an Hearing aid.  There is an increasing pandemic of hearing loss, being hidden or obscured by technology, to make up for no hearing aid, which increase their isolation, and inability to hold down any conversation for more than a few minutes.  Those who struggle to hear properly are 10% of the Welsh population and the numbers are rising, we live in a world of noise.

The Welsh government throws much support being sign-using deaf, who now have the best deaf support in the UK, but it has been at the expense of 300,000 others, in Wales, and millions of others UK-wide, displaying, that appalling indifference, bias, and profile hunting is behind that area of Senedd support, as they ignore the majority in actual need.  Easier to address one small area of hearing loss, and hoping nobody realises there are many many more. So they blow own trumpet to deaf ears. It is no secret mainstream are fed up of charities asking them for money, and in these difficult times who has money to spare anyway.

They, and the governments need to understand ignoring it is going to cost them a lot more than a few coins in a tin, or an ad to crowd fund half a dozen people.  It is going to cost the economy and the NHS more £billions.  Basic digital hearing aids are not expensive, they can be bought for as little as £30/40, the government could afford that, given it is £100s of £1,000s a year, they are going to have to find when unaddressed loss leads to deafness.

At their WITS end?

With respect, the issue is about freelance Welsh BSL interpreters fighting with WITS approaches, in a nutshell, WITS wanting to set a wage standard, and uniformity of availability, freelance doesn't want that.  Systems and deaf users are stuck in the middle of it.  The issue is UK-wide and no organised system of BSL interpreting is effectively run, or governed, because a high proportion of BSL Interpreters are part-timers and turn up dependent on other responsibilities, you may have to shop around!  Obviously 999 support is essential and a must.  WITS is a stab at it. 

Various options do exist in Wales via mobile phone access e.g. except awareness is an issue and some deaf are refusing to register their number on 999 systems because hearing people don't have to.  Obviously deaf relay systems exist, but again some deaf prefer the real thing not a relayed image.  There is a pretty random approach to supporting BSL using and reliant deaf, and a random choice being exhibited BY these deaf.  They do need a norm and a standard, but are reliant on part-time Interpreting, so if they disagree that's it, and there is nowhere much else to go, given a reluctance to opt for relay systems etc.  These deaf are a captive clientele with few if any other options. Curiously, no issues exist as regards to Welsh LA access or, the NHS/GP's either, despite the same questions should have been applied to Health.. It should be noted many deaf, prefer family not Interpreters too, and that right is established also.

Monitoring of Interpreters and setting rules to follow as well as wages etc, has also been met with opposition. ASLI does not have control over terps much, and at loggerheads with the BDA who appear to attack them at every opportunity, apparently wanting to manage BSL Interpreting themselves.  At the root of issues is nobody wants to rock the Interpreter boat given the alternatives.  Cedric is a well respected deaf campaigner, but as always BSL lobby areas tend to omit essential background details readers need, to follow what is being said. You cannot assume everyone will know it.  I think it counter-productive to go at the 999 systems when the real issues are within the support system itself and the choices deaf people are exhibiting themselves.  

Deaf have too much choice, a lot of it not really sustainable, they should be fully entitled to Interpreters, but NOT have family options to use (especially if they have no sign qualifications which would disadvantage the BSL user's ability to follow, take decisions away from the deaf, or damage their well-being, especially if the law is involved), nor use relay systems they may not be trained to use, or are familiar with. SIGN ZONE  e.g.  found many older deaf who primarily use these systems, had never used online for BSL access or knew about it.   A moot point is Interpreters, is that many are unqualified in legal situations such as the law or Health, they have to specialise to follow Jargon etc, but still they are not required to specialise. I'd be asking the question is that Interpreter qualified to translate effectively to that deaf person, if they struggle to follow legal  aspects?  Do not deaf also question the neutrality of police provided support?

CEDRIC MOON:

How the Welsh Government failed the Deaf community.

The WITS system for Sign Language interpreting has some parallels with the Post Office Horizon system issue for the Deaf community in Wales.  The Deaf community relies heavily on qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to communicate with statutory bureaucracies, especially for NHS-related appointments. Interpreters were commissioned by charities for Deaf people, including the South West Wales Interpretation Agency at Swansea (which was taken over by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)), the Wales Council for the Deaf, and the British Deaf Association.

The system operated by the charities was easily understood by their Deaf clients. One would contact the charity for an interpreter to attend an NHS appointment. The charity would discuss this with the health board concerned, agree payment, and inform the client that a named BSL interpreter would be present for the appointment. Although the system was not foolproof, it was Deaf-friendly, fairly bureaucracy-free, and easily understood by Deaf users. But then everything changed.

Welsh Interpreter and Translation Service

In 2009 a bureaucratic triarchy comprising Gwent Police, Cardiff Council, and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board instigated an initiative to provide an interpreter service for foreign-born nationals who needed access to statutory services like the NHS and the courts. This well-intentioned initiative was designed to save public money and reduce bureaucracy.

It was titled the Welsh Interpreter and Translation Service (WITS) and was based in a Gwent Police station, managed by senior police officers. Until 2014 it was managed by a chief inspector of police and then, until 2016, by a police superintendent. Obviously, a low crime rate in Gwent meant that its police force had the spare time to effectively run a business.

However, those involved with WITS decided to include BSL interpreting for Deaf people within its provision. There was no consultation with the Deaf community about this seizure of Sign Language services. Gwent Police and WITS unilaterally and undemocratically took control.....

HEARING AIDS TNG.

 

The Latest Hearing Aid Technology 2024

Predicting new developments in hearing aid technology for 2024

 

What will 2024 bring?

It is difficult to predict exactly what hearing aid technology will look like in 2024, as the field is constantly evolving and new technologies are being developed. However, we will likely see a continued trend toward the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), collaborative ecosystems, and other advanced technologies in hearing aids.

When people predict hearing aid technology advancements or how any industry is going to move forward it is no easy feat.  The rate at which digital hearing aid technology has advanced over the last few years has given rise to increased competition within the industry itself.  Inspiring consumers to want, need, and expect more from these devices. 

Although hearing aids still consist of four main parts - today's modern hearing aids give consumers far more than those of the past.  They have switched to, in some cases, complete automation and features that support hearing loss needs in all environments.  This article goes through the audiology progressions so far and what we could look forward to in 2024.

 

  2024 Hearing Aid Technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration and Augmented Reality (AR) applications will continue

 

Artificial intelligence and biometric sensors will continue to impress

Anticipate further integration of AI in hearing aids, enhancing their adaptability to various listening environments. AI algorithms can dynamically adjust settings, analyse and adapt to the wearer's surroundings in real-time, automatically adjusting the volume and frequency of sound to optimise the listening experience.

This can be particularly helpful in noisy environments, where traditional hearing aids may struggle to distinguish between important sounds and background noise.  Even though artificial intelligence isn't anything new in hearing aids - it will continue to up its game for 2024 and beyond.

For instance, towards the back end of 2023, we saw the 2nd generation of Phonak's health and fitness tracking features, especially the heart rate sensors, in the Audeo Lumity Fit model.  This allows hearing aids to collect data on the wearer's physical activity, sleep, and other health metrics, which could be used to optimise the performance of the hearing aid.

We might find an increase in AR technology in hearing aids, providing wearers with augmented information about their surroundings. This could include visual indicators of sound sources, language translation, or real-time captions, enhancing communication in diverse situations.  We saw this first in Signia's Augmented Xperience range and this technology has shown even further developments in the IX.

 

Machine learning and powerful processing chips will continue progression

Continued progress in machine learning algorithms and more personalisation will enable hearing aids to learn from the wearer's preferences and behaviours. This technology could adapt to individual listening habits, automatically adjusting settings and improving overall user satisfaction.

More high-performance chips will no doubt continue to be the norm, which will make quicker and more efficient tailor-made amplification and connectivity.  Resulting in a higher level of personalisation for wearers.  

 

Hearing aid-assisted technology, features, remote care & apps will continue to rise

Hearing aid apps are software applications that can be used to control and customise the settings of a hearing aid, as well as to monitor and track the wearer's hearing health. 2024 may bring even more advanced and sophisticated hearing aid apps that offer a wider range of features and capabilities.

Such as more hearing aids with the ability to customise the volume and frequency settings of the hearing aid in real-time, or to switch between different listening profiles depending on the environment.  There will no doubt be more evolved hearing aid apps offering features such as speech recognition or language translation, which could be particularly useful for people with hearing loss who need additional communication support.

In terms of design, we will likely see a continued trend towards user-friendly, intuitive hearing aid apps that are easy to navigate. More hearing aid apps may offer features such as voice control, which could make it easier for wearers to control their hearing aids without the need for buttons or physical elements to manage.

 

What's new in hearing aid technology for 2024?

Bluetooth will continue to be a spotlight

 

Bluetooth hearing aid technology will continue to revolutionise

The legacy of Bluetooth hearing aid technology has been evolving for years and has revolutionised the way people with hearing loss experience everyday life.  In 2024, expect advancements in wireless connectivity, enabling seamless integration with a broader range of devices.

Enhanced compatibility with smartphones, smart TVs, and other IoT devices will allow users to have a more connected and interactive experience with their hearing aids.  We also predict there will be more In-Ear products offering low-consumption Bluetooth and integrated rechargeable technology.  Therefore, in terms of design, it is likely that we will see a continued trend toward smaller, more discreet hearing aids.