Introduction
There is increasing intention to commission ‘ear health’ services from community pharmacies because demand is outstripping the limited provision of NHS audiology and community ear care services in many areas of the UK.
Hearing loss is very common and prevalence increases with age. Hearing Matters, a report by Action on Hearing Loss, found that hearing loss affected 42 per cent of people over 50 in the UK, increasing to 71 per cent of people over 70 years of age. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the most common type, affecting around nine million people. The next most common type is noise-induced hearing loss which affects several million people in the UK.
Much hearing loss goes unrecognised or unreported and delays in getting assessment and treatment for hearing loss are common.
Sources:
Figure 1: ABC of ear, nose and throat edited by Harold Ludman, Patrick J. Bradley. 6th ed, 2013. Wiley. Reproduced with permission of Wiley.
Figure 2: Essential Paediatrics and Child Health, 4th ed, 2020, Rudolph M et al. Wiley. Reproduced with permission of Wiley.
Figure 3: Descouens D. Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8371534).