Latest news with #RNID
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Not only does sleep recharge your batteries - it might also stop you going deaf in your old age
Catching up on your sleep at the weekend could do much more than just recharge your batteries - it might also stop you going deaf in your old age. A new study involving nearly 7,000 people found those in their 40s and 50s who stayed in bed for an extra hour or so at the weekend were 40 per cent less likely to suffer age-related hearing loss when they got older. One in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or suffer with tinnitus – a ringing in the ears, according to the Royal National Institute For Deaf People (RNID). This rises to one in two in those aged 55 or over and by the time they reach their seventies, around 80 per cent of people will be struggling to hear properly. Age-related hearing loss is a major risk factor for dementia, loneliness and social isolation. Experts at Chungnam National University in South Korea studied the sleeping habits of 6,797 men and women aged over 40 and recorded how many were also showing signs of partial or complete deafness due to the ageing process. The results, in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, showed those enjoying regular weekend lie-ins were 42 per cent less likely to suffer mild hearing loss and 21 per cent less likely to have moderate loss. Those in their 40s and 50s seemed to benefit the most. But lie-ins did little to preserve the hearing of those over 65. Scientists said they think an extra hour or so of rest may preserve nerve connections in the brain that are vital for good hearing. Lack of proper sleep is known to cause inflammation which can damage the cochlea – the snail-shaped structure inside the ear that turns sounds into electrical signals for the brain. Previous studies have found snoozing at the weekend can also protect against heart disease and slash the risk of dementia by up to 70 per cent, especially in those who do not get enough sleep during the week. The researchers said: 'Our study suggests the association between weekend catch-up sleep and hearing loss may be more pronounced among middle-aged adults – those who are 40 to 64 – compared to adults aged 65 or older.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Somerset nature reserve to hold guided dawn chorus walks
The RSPB is celebrating International Dawn Chorus Day with guided walks at Ham Wall nature reserve. Walks will be held every Sunday throughout May, from 6am to 8.30am, with the first event on Sunday, May 4 coinciding with the day itself. The event aims to help people enjoy "nature's biggest free symphony" as birds wake up across Somerset. Tickets for the guided walks are priced at £11 for adult RSPB members and £13.50 for non-members, with discounted rates for children. Pre-booking is essential and can be done via The RSPB has teamed up with RNID to ensure those with hearing loss can also enjoy the experience. Crystal Rolfe, director of health at RNID, said: "Many people with untreated hearing loss say that birdsong is one of the sounds they miss out on most. "A quick and easy first-step is to take the free RNID online hearing check." The RSPB and RNID have provided tips for making the most of the dawn chorus, including using bird identification apps and engaging all the senses to experience the early morning. They also recommend exploring the latest hearing aid technology for those concerned about their hearing. Morwenna Alldis from the RSPB described the dawn walks as "a multisensory nature-wow moment for everyone." She added: "Being out in nature early feels special, almost sacred."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Charity accuses NHS Wales of failing people with hearing loss
A national hearing loss charity said NHS Wales is failing to meet the communication needs of people who are deaf. In a report published recently, Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), said people who are deaf or who have hearing loss face significant barriers to healthcare. Such barriers, according to a study carried out by the charity, range from not being able to book a GP appointment to patients not understanding what is happening to them in emergency care. Wales Interpretation and Translation Service (WITS) was another body mentioned in the report as needing to review the way it provides communication support to NHS Wales. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here. READ MORE: Afghanistan war veteran raped vulnerable teenagers while they were drunk READ MORE: Bristol Airport issues stinging response to plans to give Cardiff Airport £205m It states that one in four patients (25%) have been denied the information and communication support they need, adding that "NHS staff understanding of how to record, flag and meet patient needs, including the provision of communication support, is poor". As a result of these "negative experiences", the charity said most people would prefer to book their own communication support rather than rely on the NHS provider to do this for them. However, it added that "some feel strongly that this is not their responsibility as a patient". Booking of interpreters for NHS Wales appointments and care is provided by WITS. Hosting responsibilities for the service were transferred from Gwent Police to Cardiff Council in 2017. A city council spokesperson said: 'The report has only just been published. "We will review the recommendations relating to WITS, and collaborate with our NHS partners to explore how we can enhance the service to better meet the needs of its users." As part of RNID's research project, 106 people living in Wales who are deaf or have hearing loss were surveyed and data was collected between November 12, 2024 and January 20, 2025. The charity's report states that 47 members of staff at NHS Wales were also surveyed. A total of 17 recommendations were laid out for NHS Wales and other bodies like WITS. Specifically in relation to WITS, RNID recommended that a review be carried out on the way communications support is provided to NHS Wales Services and that all key delivery partners must commit to the work needed to improve accessibility of NHS Wales services. Other recommendations include that the Welsh Government and NHS Wales must review the way providers and commissioners procure communication support professionals and that the Welsh Government must publicly restate its commitment to revise and enforce the All Wales Standards. The All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss were launched in December 2013 by the Welsh Government. They set out the level of service delivery that people with sensory loss should expect to be met with when they need healthcare and require every health board and NHS trust in Wales to develop an implementation plan. A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We are currently renewing the standards that people with sensory loss should expect when accessing healthcare in Wales, working with organisations such as RNID and the British Deaf Association. 'This will ensure that deaf people and people with hearing loss and their carers know where they can access services, care and support in their local community.'
Sunday Post
28-04-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
Deafness links to dementia spur call for faster access to NHS hearing tests
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Leading dementia experts are urging quicker access to NHS hearing tests because of the increased link between deafness and dementia. Their plea comes as people in more than half of Scotland are waiting more than two years to have hearing aids fitted. Last week The Sunday Post revealed research that shows an increased risk of dementia in a diagnosis of deafness. Over half the population aged 55 and 80% of people over the age of 70 will have hearing loss, according to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). But Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by the RNID have revealed that 12 of Scotland's 14 health boards show 41,500 patients are waiting for audiology appointments vital to diagnose hearing loss. Scots wait an average of 30 weeks for a first appointment and an average of 26 weeks from assessment to fitting hearing aids, the FOIs show. The Scottish Government's target time from GP referral to treatment is 18 weeks. The RNID also reports that some patients feel rushed and leave the clinics with little guidance on using their hearing aids. Emeritus Professor June Andrews, a leading international expert on dementia, called the waiting times worrying. 'The Lancet medical journal tells us that acquired hearing impairment is a risk for dementia,' she said. 'Addressing that loss with hearing aids is vital because when we become older, the opportunity to address health problems closes faster. 'Treating deafness earlier certainly saves our NHS money in the long term.' © Supplied Her concerns are echoed by leading dementia expert David Wilson-Wynn, senior care consultant with the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University. 'Evidence which shows an increased link between deafness and dementia is mounting and it is important to have a hearing test as soon as you feel your hearing is impaired,' he said. 'There is also evidence from France that demonstrates the slowing of cognitive changes/decline when patients were given a hearing aid. 'Any long or unreasonable waiting time for an audiology appointment or hearing aid is unreasonable and arguably more expensive for the NHS in the long term. 'Many people cannot afford private hearing aids costing around £2,000 or more.' He is urging the Scottish Government to raise the profile of the deafness link with dementia. 'I also feel that within policy, we have not made the connections between the increased risk of dementia and hearing loss in government policy,' he added. The RNID stressed the importance of reducing audiology and hearing aid fitting waiting times. 'Having ready access to audiology services is vital,' it said. 'For those who need them, being fitted with hearing aids can be life-changing – positively impacting on quality of life, boosting physical, social, emotional and mental wellbeing. 'However, people in Scotland are not getting access to these services in a timely manner.' It adds that poor access to audiology clinics causes distress to people needing vital support for education and at work. It said: 'Left untreated, deafness can contribute to isolation, potentially raising the risk of cognitive decline. 'We call on the Scottish Government to instigate the recommendations of their 2023 review of audiology services in full, including the review's recommendation for routine publication of waiting times, to ensure there is an ongoing focus on reducing these.' Professor Kevin Munro, of Manchester University, warned against patients fearing that deafness means certain dementia. 'It is a risk factor and we need more research to prove the link between deafness and dementia,' he said. 'However, have any hearing loss treated earlier than later because it can affect so much of our social and professional lives.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'We know services are facing sustained pressure and this is not unique to Scotland, with similar challenges being felt right across the UK. But some people have had to wait longer than they should for appointments and referrals – that is not acceptable. 'We are taking action, and the 2025-26 Budget is providing a record £21.7 billion for health and social care. 'The Scottish Government has accepted the findings of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland. A final report will set out how each of the recommendations have either been already fully implemented, or embedded into longer-term programmes to ensure they are delivered.'
ITV News
24-04-2025
- Health
- ITV News
'I had to tell my dad he had cancer': Families speak out about 'serious failings' in deaf healthcare
The daughter of a deaf man who died from cancer says his care was impacted by a severe lack of sign language provision. Kate Boddy's father, who lived near Mold, was diagnosed with cancer in 2022, but when the NHS was unable to provide a BSL interpreter, she was forced to deliver the news. She said: "The healthcare providers relied on me to do all that interpreting. I had to suppress every emotion to be able to translate, and it wasn't just at that moment. It was right the way through his treatment up until he died. "In the process, I forgot to be a daughter, I didn't have the opportunity to be a daughter. Cancer stole his life, but the failures of the NHS and the lack of access to interpreters stole time from us." Throughout his treatment, Kate says the lack of provision also meant her father was unable to connect with support groups or even access resources about his treatment. Kate said, "He was a proud deaf BSL user. "He was proud of his language, he had limited understanding of written and spoken British English because BSL is such a different language to English. "He was used to not having that access and campaigned for improvements, and unfortunately, they never happened and didn't happen in time for him." In Wales, more than 900 people have BSL as their main language and nearly 600,00 people are deaf and hard of hearing. Kate has now joined calls for more to be done to improve the provision of BSL interpreters across all healthcare settings, to address what are described as "serious and widespread failings". A Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) report found that seven out of ten deaf people and people with hearing loss in Wales have never been asked about their communication needs within a healthcare setting. The report also found that almost one in ten people who are deaf or have hearing loss have avoided calling an ambulance or attending A&E because of "inaccessible communication". Martin and his wife, Denise, are both deaf and said they have faced the same issues in the healthcare system. "She's had to go into hospital on a number of occasions as an emergency patient, and each time she's not had access to a British Sign Language interpreter, so therefore she's struggled to communicate", Martin said. He said that without his help or the help of an interpreter, he worries critical things might be missed. "I've actually witnessed my wife being questioned by healthcare professionals and giving incorrect answers when there's not a British Sign Language interpreter present. "This could lead to the wrong investigations taking place or a misdiagnosis." Polly Winn, from the RNID, says these concerns have real-life impacts, and it is far too common in Wales. "It's really hard to overstate the impact this has on deaf people," she said. "It is stripping them of their independence, privacy, and decency. "It is really dangerous because even if families have the best of intentions, they are not qualified to relay that information, so people are coming away from appointments confused and maybe missing out on really important treatment." The Welsh Government says it is "reviewing the standards across healthcare in Wales" and is "working with organisations such as RNID and the British Deaf Association".
