Deaf Nest: Time for change!

Hearing loss is one of the most neglected, under-researched and unrecognised public health issues affecting one in six of the population in the UK. It is widespread and growing with 14.5 million people expected to have hearing loss by 2031 (Action in Hearing Loss, 2011). There are also 800 000 people who have severe or profound levels of deafness (Davis, 1995) and more than 45 000 deaf children across the UK (National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), 2009). There is a significant under investment in hearing loss research. In 2010, the UK spent £1.34 million into the research in hearing loss for every person affected compering to £49.71 millions spent for cardiovascular research (Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), 2010). Let's be realistic, we face a future where hearing loss will become increasingly prevalent.