There is no national policy for hearing care in Ireland. While 300,000 adults in Ireland have a significant hearing loss, only one in five have the hearing aids they need. There are over 20,000 children and adults on audiology waiting lists, and although private audiology services provide approximately 70% of the services, there are no standards or oversight in place. Currently Ireland prescribes hearing aids at roughly half the rate of the UK.

This means that in Ireland we have a very high level of unaddressed hearing loss, with the associated increased risks of depression, dementia and social isolation amongst the population.

For a number of years Chime has been advocating for the Department of Health to develop a National Hearing Care Plan for the whole population. A national plan would reduce HSE waiting lists and provide more effective care pathways for people who are not medical card holders and must rely on the private sector. As a result of Chime’s campaign efforts, in late 2023 the Department of Health committed to setting up a Working Group to develop a National Hearing Care Plan. The group will commence its work in early 2024.

During 2024 Chime expects that HSE audiology waiting lists will begin to be addressed through a new procurement framework, while Phase One recommendations from the Working Group will be considered in the Estimates process for Budget 2025.