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Hearing Loss Report Highlights Startling Figures

Mark Griffin MSP helped Action on Hearing Loss Scotland launch its new report, which has revealed that the estimated number of people in Scotland with hearing loss has increased by 11 per cent over the last four years.

According to the charity’s report, Hearing Matters, urgent action is needed on deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss across Scotland. There are now 945,000 people in Scotland who are deaf or hard of hearing, due to the country’s ageing population.

The report details the charity’s key concerns and calls for Scotland’s health services (including audiology), employability support as well as access to transport and other public services to be improved to meet the individual needs of people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Mark, who recently steered the British Sign Language Act through Parliament, said:

“Action on Hearing Loss Scotland's new report shows us the scale of the challenge we face, and how important it is that the Scottish Government takes action to provide support for those with a hearing loss.

"It is important that community-based, person-centred support is in place, to ensure that individual needs are met. A principal aim of the BSL (Scotland) Act is to enable BSL users to enjoy the same opportunities as hearing people in accessing information and fulfilling their potential. This must be the case for non-BSL users who have a hearing loss too. There is rightly a real concern about Scotland's elderly population, many of whom have lost their hearing in later years. This often leave them isolated, confused and afraid and must be tackled."

Delia Henry, Director of Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, said:

“We’re delighted that Mark Griffin MSP supported the launch of our Hearing Matters Scotland report, which is calling on decision-makers in Central Scotland and throughout Scotland to ensure all barriers are removed so that people who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus can live the life they choose, and access their rights as full and equal citizens.”