We need to mainstream sensory loss
- Written by: Janis McDonald — Associate Director
- Published: 4th May 2022
Janis calls for sensory loss to be at the centre of the National Audiology Review.
The recent announcement of the National Audiology Review was very welcome. There are huge concerns about the impact of failures within paediatric audiology services, the devastating effects on the children and families affected and there are implications for adult services too.
Sensory deprivation is human rights breach. It is an effective one too. We must remedy what seems to be systemic failures, improve accessibility of services, and ensure remedies are in place to mitigate the problems documented. The Scottish Sensory Hub seeks to participate within its reference group and ensure the voices of lived experience are heard. The Scottish Sensory Hub works across priorities of information, communication and mobility. These priorities might inform a framework for solutions to be addressed.
At the Scottish Sensory Hub , we can see that data from a variety of sources links deafness with dementia, sensory loss with social isolation and both hearing and sight loss with higher than average experiences of mental health problems. I personally hope the National Audiology Review can dovetail with Community Audiology Patient Experience survey work currently planned and the developments within Primary Care and Mental Health initiatives to produce a more rounded approach.
There is also opportunity to broaden and improve the next iteration of the National See Hear Strategy and improve resources to address the communication poverty and social isolation that is already well documented.
Currently audiology focuses on technical supportive and assistive appliances. Whilst needed the technical inputs are not enough on their own. The third sector often provides some support as there is little to no statutory support either pre-diagnosis or post diagnosis to help people affected adjust to what can often be traumatic hearing and/or sight loss.
Audiology is a relatively new service, and we need to help it “come of age” within a suite of allied health professionals. Even more so, we need to ensure that we stop engaging and consulting with people and ensure we are co-producing better, accessible, available, community-based services. I believe hearing and sight loss are so common that they must be mainstreamed and sit at primary care, community level.
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