Review of Audiology Services in Scotland

In 2022, following a report by the British Academy of Audiology into NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology services, the Scottish Government commissioned the ALLIANCE to carry out lived experience research into people’s experiences of accessing audiology services in Scotland, as part of a national independent review.

Over a three-month period, we heard from 239 people who accessed or delivered front line audiology services. The work used mixed methods, including surveys and focus groups, and involved Deaf adults, Deaf young people, the parents and families of those accessing paediatric services and audiology staff. The ALLIANCE report on this work is available here.

The ALLIANCE lived experience report was referenced repeatedly in the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland: Review report and recommendations (IRASS) in 2023.

The 55 recommendations of the IRASS report were accepted in principle by the Scottish Government in December 2023.

Since then, the ALLIANCE has sat on the Scottish Government implementation advisory group and has been involved in ongoing scrutiny and support around implementing the recommendations, in partnership with organisations such as the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), RNID, Sense and Deafblind Scotland.

In 2025 the ALLIANCE, NDCS, RNID and the British Academy of Audiology published an open letter to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, raising concerns about the lack of progress on implementing the review’s recommendations.

Most of us will experience Deafness in our lifetimes, and audiology is a key part of effective support and signposting. Audiologists offer a vital service and should be properly supported with career pathways, access to training and resources. For people experiencing Deafness, access to appropriate healthcare is a human right – hearing care and communication support are essential to ensuring people can live well and participate in their communities.

The ALLIANCE remains committed to ensuring that the voices of lived experience are at the forefront of Scotland’s work on audiology.

If you are interested in discussing the ALLIANCE’s work on audiology, please contact the Scottish Sensory Hub by emailing sensory@alliance-scotland.org.uk