The new analysis, published in the , re-evaluated existing prevalence data to include people with hearing loss who were previously not taken into account by official statistics.

The study was based on new population estimates from the most recent censuses: the 2021 Scottish census and the 2022 England and Wales Census. Because of an increase in the UK population, this resulted in an increase to 4.6 million.

However, the new data shows if people with a milder degree of hearing loss in both ears are included, the estimate is 12.3 million, or 1 in 4 of the population aged 18-80.

The number is greater still—18 million or 1 in 3— if those with a hearing loss in only one ear are also included.

Co-author Professor Kevin Munro, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator at The University of Manchester said: “These data more accurately reflect the number of adults in the UK who have impaired hearing that will cause listening difficulty, especially in background noise.

“Maintaining the hearing health of adults is a strong social responsibility. So it is important to acknowledge that millions of people’s experiences have effectively been dismissed by existing data which means they are effectively left out of the national conversation.”

Co-author NIHR Senior Investigator Professor Michael Akeroyd from the University of Nottingham said: “The way we define hearing loss puts us at odds with most other countries.

“By modernizing these numbers, we align with the latest international practice.  We hope it will encourage more people to realise how common hearing loss is.”

Hearing loss ranks third for Years Lived with Disability, first for sensory disorders, and first for those over age 70. That is why addressing hearing loss is an important component of healthy ageing, argue the researchers. 

Despite the revised estimate, the researchers stress a new study is required because there have been significant changes in factors that could affect the estimates.

These include potentially lower occupational hearing loss from reductions in heavy industry and greater population diversity since the 1980s on which these data are estimated. Some ethnic minorities at higher risk of hearing loss.

New studies could also determine if there is now greater hearing loss from recreational noise exposure.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England Professor Chis Whitty, in a 2023 report on healthy ageing reflected the call by the researchers for better data.

His report argued that available estimates of hearing impairment rely on outdated statistics from several decades ago and that sensory impairment is a major contributor to disability in older age.

It also argued that many components of the ageing process are significantly under-researched including hearing impairment.

Victoria Boelman, Director of Insight and Policy at RNID, said: “RNID welcomes this new insight as a step forward in our understanding of the UK’s community of people with hearing loss. The updated statistics now reflect and include the real-life experience of the 18 million people in the UK who have different and diverse experiences of deafness and hearing loss. By previously excluding people with milder hearing loss or hearing loss in a single ear, society had effectively dismissed millions of people’s experiences and not factored them into national conversations.

“We’re here for the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. With our communities, we’ll change society to make it more inclusive for everyone, help people hear better now and fund world-class research. If you need support or information, visit rnid.org.uk.”

The paper “Population estimates of the number of adults in the UK with a hearing loss updated using 2021 and 2022 census data” is available at

91ֱ�� researchers, based at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), worked with The University of Manchester and 91ֱ��-based firm genedrive Plc on the Pharmacogenetics to Avoid Loss of Hearing (PALOH) study. Together, they developed the pioneering, rapid bedside genetic test which was .

Using a cheek swab, the test can identify in 26 minutes whether a critically ill baby admitted to intensive care has a gene change that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic, Gentamicin.

While Gentamicin is used to safely treat approximately 100,000 babies a year, one in 500 babies carry the gene change that can lead to permanent hearing loss when given the antibiotic.

The new test means that babies found to have the genetic variant can be given an alternative antibiotic within the ‘golden hour’ and could save the hearing of 200 babies in England every year.

PALOH study lead, Professor Bill Newman, Consultant in Genomic Medicine at MFT and Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine at The University of Manchester, said: “I am delighted for the team to receive this recognition of their fantastic efforts and their innovative approach in bringing this test to fruition.”

The new swab test technique, which was piloted at MFT, replaces a test that traditionally took several days and is the first use of a rapid point of care genetic test in acute neonatal care.

Dr Ajit Mahaveer, Consultant Neonatologist, Rachel James, Senior Research Coordinator and Nicola Booth, Research Nurse Manager on the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital, attended the awards ceremony in London and accepted the award on behalf of the team.

Dr Mahaveer said: "I am incredibly proud to be part of the team who made this study a reality and to be recognised at this year’s New Statesman Positive Impact Awards. It’s an honour to accept the award on behalf of the team, knowing the work we have put into delivering this research will truly make a difference to hundreds of babies’ lives each year.

“As a doctor dealing daily with infection, my main concern was how easy and quickly the test was to conduct, as it’s important that we do not delay antibiotic treatment. Our experience of using this test has been very positive. It’s straight-forward, non-invasive and will have a huge impact on our patients’ lives.”

Professor Newman, Theme Co-Lead Lead for Rare Conditions, National Institute for Health and Care Research, 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre, continued: “I am absolutely thrilled with the success of the study and that this test is now being used in routine clinical practice. This test will make a real difference, helping to ensure babies are not going to lose their hearing for a preventable reason.”

It is expected the test could save the NHS £5 million every year by reducing the need for other interventions, such as cochlear implants.

Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England and Senior Responsible Officer for Genomics in the NHS said: “This ground-breaking bedside test for detecting whether an antibiotic could cause deafness in babies in intensive care is another example of how the NHS is harnessing the power of genomic medicine to transform patient care. This award is a tribute to the hard work of Professor Bill Newman and his team in 91ֱ��.”

Dr Gino Miele, R&D Director, genedrive plc, said: “The collaboration of our company with the research and clinical team at MFT is a shining example of the NHS working with a commercial company to deliver real improvements in patient outcomes in a cost-effective way.”

Caption: Rachel James, Senior Research Coordinator; Nicola Booth, Research Nurse Manager, Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Dr Ajit Mahaveer, Consultant Neonatologist at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT receiving the award on behalf of the PALOH team. (Photo credit: New Statesman Positive Impact Awards)

Designed by a team at The Universities of 91ֱ�� and , and the , the revolutionary design will protect wearers from viruses such as COVID-19.

The need for safe and effective covering remains important to protect wearers and bystanders for some groups. This can include elderly people or those who are are immunosuppressed (have a weakened immune system).

[1] by Dr Gaby Saunders, Senior Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, showed how opaque masks were associated with anxiety and stress in both the talker and the listener, spurring the project.

Dr Saunders, who manages 91ֱ�� BRC’s Hearing Device Centre, said: “Facial expressions are used extensively in communication, even among hearing people, and our research showed how face mask wearers feel less connected, less willing to engage in conversation.

“That is linked to increased anxiety and stress, as well as fatigue, frustration and embarrassment in both the listener and speaker.”

A 12-month ‘rapid-response’ grant from allowed research audiologists at The University of Manchester, Dr Michael Stone, Marston Senior Research Fellow, and Professor Kevin Munro, Honorary Consultant Clinical Scientist at , to assemble a team of experts.

The funding for a study to improve the design of masks was awarded by the .

Dr Stone, who is also 91ֱ�� BRC Developing Engineering Solutions Programme Lead, consulted with members of the Deaf community and people with experience of hearing loss.

Feedback from the community, and other users, allowed the team to refine the design, which was validated in a recent paper in [2].

Professor Trevor Cox, from the acoustics research centre at the University of Salford, and the team, also based there, developed a re-usable cotton-based mask design, allowing it to be manufactured widely.

The design incorporates an optically transparent panel, supported on a thin ‘scaffold’, which produces less muffling of sound than a conventional opaque mask with the acoustic signal (sound) from the mouth.

Prof Cox said: “By reducing the weight of the transparent plastic, we could stop the high frequency parts of speech being lost in the mask. The scaffold to support the thin plastic sheet is carefully designed not to hinder the sound.”

Dr Stone said: “This is a brilliant linking up of two diverse academic pursuits, psychology and physics, to produce real-world benefit for a wide range of people.

“The optical panel has also been shown to be effective  in face visors, and we are now looking for commercial partners so as to extend the reach of the designs and prototypes as well as incorporating a novel lightweight filtration material developed at The University of Manchester.”

Templates for the mask designs, available in three sizes, and a link to a “how-to-make” video hosted on YouTube are available at [3]

[1] Saunders G.H., Jackson I.R., Visram A.S. (2021) Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19, International Journal of Audiology, 60:7, 495-506, https://www.doi.org/

[2] Cox T.J.,  Dodgson G., Harris L., Perugia E., Stone M.A., Walsh M. (2022) Improving the measurement and acoustic performance of transparent facemasks and shields.  J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 151, https://www.doi.org/10.1121/10.0010384

[3] Maker Space URL for templates & video. https://hub.salford.ac.uk/sirc-acoustics/facemask-with-improved-communication/

They examined socio-spatial patterns of hearing health among older adults in England, using objective hearing data of 8,263 participants aged 50-89 years old from the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing (ELSA).

Published in the International , the findings show that people in the North of England are more likely to have worse hearing closer to fifty than those with similar age profiles living in the South.

The percentage of 71-80-year-olds living with disabling hearing loss were: 49.2% in the North East, 43% in the North West, and 46% in Yorkshire and the Humber. That compared to 35.7% in the South East and 37.4% London.

Similarly, for 61 to 70 year-olds the figures were: 24.6% in the North East, 21.8 in the North West, and 22.6 in Yorkshire and the Humber. That compared to 14.6% in the South East and 18% in London.

Though the figures for 51 to 60 year-olds and the over 80s showed little difference between the regions, the overall picture was stark.

Until now, the local estimates of hearing loss prevalence in England have been based on projected population age demographics and audiological data solely collected from Nottingham and Southampton in the 1980s.

The 91ֱ�� study updates the prevalence estimates of hearing loss in older adults in England after nearly four decades.

It is also the first study to calculate the prevalence of objectively identified hearing loss in older adults based on data from a nationally representative sample, and not population demographics, providing the best audiological data in England today.

They also discovered a weak correlation between hearing loss and the increasing age, which was unexpected, showing an accumulation of risk factors other than age which might be responsible for the increase in hearing loss in successive age groups.

, a postdoctoral researcher based in the University’s Division of Medical Education, and primary investigator of the study, said: “Hearing loss is an important public health issue that costs the English economy over £25 billion a year in productivity and unemployment.

“The measurement of hearing loss prevalence is an essential prerequisite for understanding population health. Despite the effects of hearing loss on mental health and social wellbeing, studies on the prevalence of hearing loss are sparse, making the understanding of who is most affected and where resources should be allocated difficult.

“Regular assessment of the extent and causality of the population’s different audiological needs is strongly supported by the updated evidence that our study has produced.

“We find, there is room for improvement in the estimates that currently inform the NHS hearing loss data tool for planning services on local authority and CCGs levels in England.”

, from The University of Manchester ‘Health and Care in the Wider Context’ Theme Co-lead in The Institute of Health Policy and Organisation (IHPO), and Senior author of the study, said: “Where people live plays an important role in their health, as the location shapes several environmental risks, as well as many other health effects.

“Applying a single percentage of prevalence estimates for all regions means that the northern part of the country with a history of socioeconomic and health disparities may be left behind in its needs.”

, from The University of Manchester, ‘Safer Care Systems and Transitions’ Theme Lead in the NIHR Greater 91ֱ�� Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, and co-author, added: “These findings have significant implications for health policy and planning for health services; the prevalence estimates of hearing loss should be calculated based on the actual populations’ needs and not purely on age demographics.

“The study also might have implications on global hearing health policy and practice: all countries currently use population’s age projections and not actual epidemiological data to inform hearing loss prevalence estimates and their hearing health policy. However, our study showed that this method is not accurate.

“The updated data on the prevalence of hearing loss in England underscore the need for establishing evidence-based programmes for hearing screening, a needed reform the World Health Organization also recommended to the Member States in the recently launched .”

And those in the lowest wealth groups, they found, had up to twice the relative risk of developing depression than those in the highest wealth quintiles, as hearing loss disproportionally affected their quality of life.

Published in , the landmark study goes some way in laying to rest more than 40 years of research on whether hearing loss causes depression.

The data also showed that hearing aids have a stronger effect in alleviating symptoms of depression in poorer socio-economic groups than in wealthy ones.

And improved symptoms of depression were more pronounced among those using their hearing aids ‘most of the time’ than those using them ‘some of the time’.

The researchers analysed longitudinally the entire dataset of participants aged 50–89 years in 8 Waves of the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing (ELSA), from 2002 to 2017, examining 74,908 people.

The findings for the first time revealed that hearing loss affected people according to their socioeconomic position.

, from The University of Manchester who led the study, said: “Our study shows that hearing loss poses a substantial risk for depressive symptoms in older adults, especially those who experience socioeconomic inequalities.

“We also think that hearing aids could support the most vulnerable people who already lacked life opportunities compared to the most affluent.

“That way they were able to take more control of their lives and keep participating actively in society.”

Dr Tsimpida, a Chartered Psychologist and postdoctoral researcher based in the University’s Division of Medical Education, added: “We think it’s reasonable to identify hearing loss as a causal factor because we used advanced statistical techniques called dynamic cross-lagged path models (CLPMs) to estimate hearing loss and depression's relationship over time.

“We argue the early detection of hearing loss by primary care professionals in routine assessments may not only promote better hearing health but also prevent or delay the onset of depression.

“Increasing the hearing loss treatment rate could be one effective strategy for risk reduction of depression, given the high prevalence of hearing loss in older age and its low treatment levels.”

Co-author Dr Maria Panagioti said: “The existing evidence on the association between hearing loss and depression was conflicting; our study now adds to this body of knowledge by identifying for the first time the socioeconomic pattern in their relationship.”

“Focusing primarily on the role of the socioeconomic position may satisfactorily explain the causal, temporal and graded relationship between hearing loss and depression over time, which differs according to people’s status in the social hierarchy.

“Our study has important and novel clinical implications, as it adds to the understanding of the interrelationship between hearing loss and depression, and the potential impact of interventions with hearing aids for people’s mental health.”

Dr Tsimpida’s study is co-authored by , , and .

 The Dynamic Relationship between Hearing Loss, Quality of Life, Socioeconomic Position and Depression and the Impact of Hearing Aids: Answers from the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing (ELSA) is .

Professor Kevin Munro and PhD researcher Ibrahim Almufarrij found 56 studies that identified an association between COVID-19 and auditory and vestibular problems.

They pooled data from 24 of the studies to estimate that the prevalence of hearing loss was 7.6%, tinnitus was 14.8% and vertigo was 7.2%.

They publish their findings in the .

However, the team – who followed up their review carried out a year ago – described the quality of the studies as fair.

Their data primarily used self-reported questionnaires or medical records to obtain COVID- 7 19-related symptoms, rather than the more scientifically reliable hearing tests.

The study was funded by  gifts to the University's COVID-19 Research Appeal, along with support from RNIB, Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust, and NIHR 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Kevin Munro, Professor of Audiology at The University of Manchester and 91ֱ�� BRC Hearing Health Lead said: “There is an urgent need for a carefully conducted clinical and diagnostic study to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the auditory system.

“It is also well-known that viruses such as measles, mumps and meningitis can cause hearing loss; little is understood about the auditory effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.”

“Though this review provides further evidence for an association, the studies we looked at were of varying quality so more work needs to be done.”

Professor Munro, is currently leading a year-long UK study to investigate the possible long-term impact of COVID-19 on hearing among people who have been previously treated in hospital for the virus.

His team hope to accurately estimate the number and severity of COVID-19 related hearing disorders in the UK, and discover what parts of the auditory system might be affected

They will also explore the association between these and other factors such as lifestyle, the presence of one or more additional conditions and critical care interventions.

A recent study led by Professor Munro, suggested that more than 13 per cent of patients who were discharged from a hospital reported a change in their hearing.

Ibrahim Almufarrij said: “Though the evidence is of varying quality, more and more studies are being carried out so the evidence base is growing. What we really need are studies that compare COVID-19 cases with controls, such as patients admitted to hospital with other health conditions.

“Though caution needs to be taken, we hope this study will add to the weight of scientific evidence that there is a strong association between Covid-19 and hearing problems.”

Professor Munro added: “Over the last few months I have received numerous emails from people who reported a change in their hearing, or tinnitus after having COVID-19.

“While this is alarming, caution is required as it is unclear if changes to hearing are directly attributed to COVID-19 or to other factors, such as treatments to deliver urgent care.”

The paper One year on: an updated systematic review of sarscov-2, covid-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms is published in the

The study, published in the International Journal of Audiology, was carried out by experts at The University of Manchester, The University of Sheffield and Lancaster University.

Eighty people over seventy with mixed hearing abilities completed two detailed questionnaires, 12 weeks apart, during May and June 2020 when lockdown restrictions were in place.

The study was funded by Deafness Support Network (DSN), a Cheshire based charity, and supported by the (BRC) and NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre.

NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC bridges the gap between new discoveries and individualised care through pioneering research. The BRC’s Hearing Health theme is improving the lives of adults and children by preventing potentially devastating congenital deafness, diagnosing acquired age-related hearing deficits, and developing new treatments.

Lead author Dr Jenna Littlejohn from The University of Manchester, DSN and NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC said: “Hearing loss, one of the leading causes of disability in older adults, is already commonly associated with increased rates of depression, social isolation, and risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

“However this study shows that these problems are even more acute during the lockdown for people over 70, who were among the ‘clinically vulnerable’ people asked to shield.”

She added: “Because we were not able to conduct face to face interviews during the lockdown, this study was clearly not able to estimate the effects of the pandemic on the over seventies without internet access.

“However, it would be logical to suspect that these negative associations could be even stronger in people who do not have access to the internet as they may be even more socially isolated: video calls have been lifelines for many.”

Cancellation of medical appointments, the use of face masks and the limitation in the use of technology due to hearing loss are thought to all be important factors.

Many routine face-to-face audiology appointments have been postponed, suspended, or offered remotely.

Face masks act as a direct barrier to communication and are particularly problematic for people with hearing loss who also rely on lip reading and facial expression.

And the enforced social distancing means people with hearing loss might struggle to use telephone and video calls to stay in touch with family and friends.

Around 70 per cent of people over the age of 70 have hearing loss according to the World Health Organisation. The 8.3 million people in the UK with the condition are likely, argue the team, to be selectively disadvantaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Littlejohn said: “We suspect the use of face coverings and limited group meetings may remain for a while yet, and so our work into the longer-term collateral effects of the pandemic is ongoing.

“We need to ensure people with hearing loss get the correct support from health and social care professionals in terms of supporting mental health and investigating the risk of cognitive impairment due to the enforced social isolation on these people.

“The more data we have, the better we can inform the health and social care professionals who are responsible for them.”

The paper ‘Self-reported hearing difficulties are associated with loneliness, depression and cognitive dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic’ is published in the

The one-year study will be co-led by Professor Kevin Munro, 91ֱ�� BRC Hearing Health Lead and Professor of Audiology at the University of Manchester, and will investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 on hearing among people who have been previously treated in hospital for the virus.

91ֱ�� BRC bridges the gap between new discoveries and individualised care through pioneering research. The BRC’s Hearing Health Theme is improving the lives of adults and children by preventing potentially devastating congenital deafness, diagnosing acquired age-related hearing deficits, and developing new treatments.

This research aims to accurately estimate the number and severity of COVID-19 related hearing disorders in the UK, discover what parts of the auditory system might be affected, and explore the association between these and other factors such as lifestyle, the presence of one or more additional conditions (comorbidities) and critical care interventions.

Detailed hearing tests will be carried out by researchers in over 100 patients previously hospitalised with COVID-19 and compared to a control group of people previously hospitalised for other conditions not thought to affect hearing. Professor Chris Plack, 91ֱ�� BRC Paediatric Diagnosis Associate Lead who will co-lead the study, said: “The research will be conducted in our bespoke hearing research van, with state-of-the art facilities that conform to clinical standards for COVID-19. With this ability we are uniquely placed to take this important research out on the road to make taking part as easy as possible.”

It is known that viruses such as measles, mumps and meningitis can cause hearing loss, but little is understood about the auditory effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Hearing loss has been reported anecdotally as a side effect of COVID-19, with a recent study led by Professor Munro, suggesting that more than 13 per cent of patients who were discharged from hospital reported a change in their hearing.

Professor Munro said: “Over the last few months I have received numerous emails from people who reported a change in their hearing, or tinnitus after having COVID-19. We know that viruses can damage hearing so the virus responsible for COVID-19 may also damage hearing. While this is alarming, caution is required when interpreting this finding as it is unclear if changes to hearing are directly attributed to COVID-19 or to other factors, such as treatments to deliver urgent care. Clearly there is an urgent need for a carefully conducted clinical and diagnostic study to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the auditory system.”

Dr Ralph Holme, Executive Director of Research, RNID said: “We are delighted to co-fund this vital research so we can urgently understand if and how coronavirus might damage hearing and so people can be given the support they need to manage their hearing loss. Understanding which part of the auditory system is affected is the first step. We then need to find treatments to prevent the virus causing hearing loss.”

Professor Richard Ramsden, previously a 91ֱ�� based neuro-otologist, and now a Trustee of DCEPT said: “I welcome this important project which has major implications for those many survivors of coronavirus infection, and for clinicians who manage deaf and hard of hearing individuals.”

Instead the , published in BMC Geriatrics, found hearing loss could be linked to social and lifestyle differences in the north and south of the country.

The 74,699 people with hearing loss interviewed in 8 waves of the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing from 2002–2017, analysed by the team had similar age profiles over time.

The number of people with hearing loss increased by 10% over 15 years, however, the mean age of the people analysed stayed the same.

However, over the same period, the samples had markedly different hearing outcomes in terms of where respondents lived. Deprivation and alcohol misuse related to hearing loss were much more prevalent in the north, suggesting a possible hearing north south divide.

, who led the study, said a socio spatial approach is crucial for planning sustainable models of hearing care based on actual need, and for reducing hearing health inequalities.

Local estimates of hearing loss prevalence in England are currently based on projected population age demographics and audiological data solely collected from Nottingham and Southampton in the 1980s.

However the study is the first to investigate geographical patterns and trends of hearing loss based on a representative cohort of older adults and not through population age projections.

Ms Tsimpida, Research Associate in the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research said:  “Hearing loss has been labelled as something which is more likely to affect the elderly. However, this study shows for the first time that the increasing trend in hearing loss prevalence is not related to the ageing of the population, as widely believed, but potentially to social and lifestyle changes.

“We don’t know why that might be – and this study does not and cannot imply a biological causality.

“But nevertheless, this is a significant milestone in hearing research and a breakthrough that gives us considerable insight into what is actually happening.

“The survey is representative of the English older population; the findings provide a good representation for England as a whole.”

Ms Tsimpida’s study is co-authored by her supervisors Dr Maria Panagioti, Professor Evangelos Kontopantelis and Professor Darren Ashcroft.

The Research Associate in the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research added: “These findings have important implications for health policy and planning for health services in England based on actual needs and not on the age of the populations through projections.

“People need to receive the full range of quality healthcare services that meet their needs; the current focus on age profiles alone is not suitable for planning sustainable models of hearing care.

“The Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) who are currently responsible for the NHS audiology services in England should take into consideration socioeconomic factors and modifiable lifestyle behaviours for hearing loss, along with their spatial patterning in England.

“More informed modelling may have influenced North Staffordshire CCG’s 2015 decision to cease the free provision of hearing aids for people with mild or moderate hearing loss: an area where hearing loss burden is now one of the greatest in England”.

A copy of the paper Regional Patterns and Trends of Hearing Loss in England: Evidence from the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing (ELSA) and Implications for Health Policy is

Following the first peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, experts have turned their attention to the long-term health consequences of the novel coronavirus.

Viruses can damage hearing, and so it is possible that the virus responsible for Covid-19 may also have this effect. Kevin Munro, Professor of Audiology, and his team have already published two relevant studies displaying a possible link between Covid-19 and hearing deterioration; both of which have attracted widespread media attention.

In one study, following up with adults diagnosed with Covid-19 eight weeks after hospital discharge, more than 1 in 10 self-reported a deterioration in their hearing or the presence of tinnitus (noises in their ears).

“We already know that viruses such as measles, mumps and meningitis can cause hearing loss and coronaviruses can damage the nerves that carry information to and from the brain”, said Professor Munro. “It is possible, in theory, that Covid-19 could cause problems with parts of the auditory system including the middle ear or cochlea.”

Earlier this year, many supporters came together to donate towards The University of Manchester’s medical research response. As a result of donor generosity, the University has been able to establish a special research fund, which, along with generous contributions from charitable sources, will support Professor Kevin Munro’s crucial research investigating the impact of Covid-19 on hearing.

The is a powerhouse of hearing research spanning basic discovery science through to applied research and patient benefit. The University is currently leading the world on hearing-related Covid-19 research and is arguably the only UK centre with the facilities (including the UK’s only hearing research van), expertise and agility to take the next bold step to understanding the links between Covid-19 and hearing loss.

“Timely evidence for decision makers is urgently needed, so I am very grateful that philanthropic support has enabled us to begin this study and understand the longer term impact of Covid-19 on the auditory system”, said Professor Munro.

“There is still very little information about the long-term effects of Covid-19 and it is important that we understand the ongoing medical, psychological and rehabilitation needs of people impacted by the virus. Our results will help ensure that, in the future, Covid-19 patients receive appropriate hearing assessments and management for any hearing loss. Mitigating the impact of hearing loss will have consequent benefits to the quality of life for the individuals concerned.”

For more information on Professor Munro’s research and the findings so far, please visit this link.

A survey has shown that audiologists feel the COVID-19 lockdown has brought about some beneficial changes to care of patients with hearing problems.

Dr Gabrielle Saunders, a Senior Research Fellow at The University of Manchester says findings from the survey of 140 audiologists are a rare positive in the crisis which has caused misery across the world.

The study, published in the International Journal of Audiology, estimates that between 29 May and 15 June, just 5% of face to face audiology appointments took place in the UK. Many of the appointments were replaced by ‘telecare’ or ‘remote care’.

Most of the telecare appointments, which took place by phone, did not hinder their ability to provide audiological care using standard procedures.

Of the audiologists interviewed, nearly all of them said they would carry on working remotely into the future.

Though hearing tests cannot be carried out on the phone and ears can’t be looked into, much of an audiologist’s work involves advising patients.

Advice includes about how to best cope with their hearing loss and/or tinnitus, how to use hearing aids, and programming, setting up and repairing of hearing aids.

All of these activities can be carried out by remotely - by phone or video call, combined with prearranging hearing aid drop offs.

Dr Saunders said: “Telephone calls can be very hard for patients with hearing problems, but at the moment, face to face appointments involve the audiologist wearing a mask, which is also difficult.

 One solution is to have a mixed appointment in which things like a hearing test and ear check are done in-person, while other activities are done via phone or video call.

“And it does seem from this study that remote working can improve the care of many -  though not all - audiology patients.

“Many of the audiologists we spoke to were positive about the way of working, believing it was helpful in terms of cost and convenience for patients while not diminishing the quality of care’.

“Other research actually shows patients feel it allows them to communicate more freely in their home surroundings.

“Programming hearing aids in patients’ homes -  rather than the clinic where the acoustics are often very different - means that the settings can be more personalized to the patient’s needs and listening environment.

“Audiologists felt it was  an opportunity to develop their role and improve patient care.

She added: “However, more work needs to be carried out in terms of how patients see remote working, which is what we shall be doing in our next study.

“But in the field of audiology, I hope its use will continue to grow in the NHS as it does seem to beneficial patients.”

The paper Audiology in the time of COVID-19: Practices and opinions of audiologists in the UK, is published in the

Up to a third of older adults with hearing loss in England could be undetected and untreated, according to a new study by University of Manchester researchers.

The study, published in , might mean millions of people are not seeing ear specialists or given hearing aids when their hearing has considerably deteriorated.

Women, older people, with fewer qualifications and living in more deprived areas were the at higher risk of not recognising their hearing had deteriorated and thus were less likely to seek help, found the researchers.

The findings reveal many hearing loss cases remain undiagnosed in primary care, since people very often cannot recognise their hearing has been affected, and highlight gaps in the continuity of hearing care pathways.

, who led the study, said untreated hearing difficulty can have a negative impact on mental and physical health, and despite that, hearing loss among older people is underdiagnosed and undertreated.

The team examined patterns of health pathways among older adults in England, using hearing data of 8,529 participants aged 50-89 years old from the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing (ELSA).

The researchers said that as the survey is representative of the English older population, the findings provide a good representation for England as a whole.

Although participants had objectively been identified as having hearing loss, they did not self-identify their own difficulties correctly and reported themselves as having normal hearing.

Action on Hearing Loss estimates thar hearing loss affects over 12 million people in the UK and costs the UK economy around £25 billion a year in productivity and unemployment.

There is no accurate figure for England because of the absence of a screening programme.

By 2035, it is estimated that there will be more than 15 million people with hearing loss in the UK – a fifth of the population.

Diagnosis of hearing loss starts in primary care, where traditionally, people with hearing difficulties present to their GP to seek advice and investigation.

Ms Tsimpida, who is based at the University’s Institute for Health Policy and Organisation (IHPO) said: “ It is crucial that those with hearing loss are detected in a timely way, referred to ear specialists and given access to hearing aids. The early identification of hearing difficulties in primary care may be the key to tackling this major public health issue.

“However, more research is needed to understand why so many people are undiagnosed, though we feel making hearing loss part of a routine primary care examination among older adults would be beneficial.”

The study was carried out during Ms Tsimpida’s NIHR 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre PhD Studentship, co-authored by her supervisors Dr Maria Panagioti, Professor Evangelos Kontopantelis and Professor Darren Ashcroft.

She added: “This lack of self awareness of hearing loss is a problem for many people”.

Clinical research often relies on a self-report measure of hearing loss. Our study showed that self-report measurement of hearing loss had limited accuracy and was not sufficiently sensitive to detect hearing loss.

“These findings may inform public health policies relevant to selection of appropriate and validated tools for detecting hearing problems among middle-aged and older adults.”

“The study also provides novel insights into the clinical practice and reinforces the importance of an effective and sustainable hearing loss screening strategy in primary care.”

Hearing damage which isn’t yet severe enough to be diagnosed as hearing loss is common in young adults who regularly attend loud music events, according to University of Manchester led research.

Early signs of damage to hearing are associated with exposure to loud recreational noise such as clubs and concerts, says Dr Sam Couth, who carried out the study published in the journal Hearing Research.

The study was funded by the Colt Foundation, which funds occupational and environmental health research, and was run in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music.

After carrying out a series of specialised hearing tests and interviews with 123 18-27 year-olds, it was found those who had the highest levels of recreational noise exposure had poorer functioning hair cells in the cochlear – a spiral shaped tube in the inner-ear involved in detecting sounds.

Humans are born with 12,000 hair cells – though this number decreases as part of the aging process.

Dr Couth, who is based at the University’s , said listening to loud music can damage and accelerate the loss of hair cells, and may have a cumulative effect on hearing later in life.

It was also found that the conduction of sound signals from the hearing nerve to the brain may be slowed down as a result of damage from noise.

He said: “This study shows that the normal activities of young people are likely to lead to early damage to hearing - and that could lead to more serious problems in the longer term.

“This study shows quite clearly that young people who regularly go to loud clubs and concerts are more likely to have a degree of noise damage to their ears compared to those who lead quieter lives.

“Musicians may be especially at risk as loud noise exposure is a daily occurrence as part of their profession.”

Experts say the best way to minimise the risk of hearing damage is to avoid noisy situations altogether or to reduce the volume at its source, but this may not always be practical.

Although considered a last resort, Dr Couth urges anyone frequently exposed to loud music to protect their hearing by wearing effective and safe earplugs and get their hearing tested regularly.

He also suggests audiologists need to closely monitor the health of the delicate hair cells in the cochlea and our ability to detect high-pitch sounds, which may reveal signs of early damage even when hearing appears to be normal.

Audiologists say the length of safe noise exposure is reduced by half for every 3 decibels increase in noise intensity.

That equates to 4 hours of daily exposure for 88 decibels of noise, 2 hours for 91 decibels, and so on.

“Most amplified concerts exceed 100 decibels, meaning that people shouldn’t be exposed to that level of noise for more than 15 minutes without proper hearing protection.

He added: “We know from previous research that only 6% of musicians consistently wear hearing protection.

“That is why we urge all musicians, clubbers and concert-goers to wear earplugs designed specifically for listening to music so that the quality of the sound remains high, while the risk of hearing damage is reduced.”

Hearing aids and cataract surgery are strongly linked to a slower rate of age-related cognitive decline, according to new research by University of Manchester academics.

According to and , cognitive decline- which affects memory and thinking skills- is slowed after patient’s hearing and sight are improved.

The rate of decline was halved following cataract surgery and was 75% less following the adoption of hearing aids.

The research on cataract surgery - which is published in  today– was carried out using 2,068 individuals who underwent cataract surgery between Wave 2 and Wave 6 of the English Longitudinal 91ֱ�� of Ageing survey from between 2002 to 2014.

They were compared with 3,636 individuals with no cataract surgery.

And the research on hearing aids, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in July, was carried out using 2040 participants in the American Health and Retirement survey from 1996 to 2014

Both surveys assess cognitive decline by testing memory, asking participants to recall 10 words immediately and then at the end of the cognitive function module.

The researchers compared the rates of decline before and after the patients had surgery or started wearing a hearing aid.

Dr Dawes said: “These studies underline just how important it is to overcome the barriers which deny people from accessing hearing and visual aids.

“It’s not really certain why hearing and visual problems have an impact on cognitive decline, but I’d guess that isolation, stigma and the resultant lack of physical activity that are linked to hearing and vision problems might have something to do with it.

“And there are barriers to overcome: people might not want to wear hearing aids because of stigma attached to wearing them, or they feel the amplification is not good enough or they’re not comfortable.

“Perhaps a way forward is adult screening to better identify hearing and vision problems and in the case of hearing loss, demedicalising the whole process so treatment is done outside the clinical setting. That could reduce stigma.

“Wearable hearing devices are coming on stream nowadays which might also be helpful. They not only assist your hearing, but give you access to the internet and other services

Dr Maharani said: “Age is one of the most important factors implicated in cognitive decline. We find that hearing and vision interventions may slow it down and perhaps prevent some cases of dementia, which is exciting- though we can’t say yet that this is a causal relationship.

“Other studies have attempted to look at rates of cognitive decline- but have not really succeeded as it’s hard to take into account demographic factors.

“But the beauty of this study is that we’re comparing the progress of the same individuals over time.”

‘’ is published in Plos One.

‘’ is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

This research is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Framework