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Hearing loss
Hearing loss has been identified as a major public health issue. The vast majority of people with hearing loss and profound hearing loss are older people aged 65+, so once again as the population profile of the region ages the number of people with hearing loss is set to grow (Action on Hearing Loss, 2015).
The following table shows how the estimated numbers of people aged 18+ with a hearing impairment is set to grow in the West Wales region by 2030.
Figure 13:5 Estimated numbers of people aged 18+ with a hearing impairment
Those aged 18+ with hearing impairment
Moderate or severe hearing impairment Profound hearing impairment
Source: Daffodil Cymru
2015 2030
2015-2030 % Change
46,973 61,907 32% 1,075 1,529 42%
Hearing loss affects us and is more likely to be experienced alongside other conditions, as we age:
• From the age of 40 onwards, a higher proportion of men than women develop hearing loss. This may be because more men have been exposed to high levels of industrial noise (Action on Hearing Loss, 2015)
• 71.1%ofover-70-year-oldshavesomekindofhearingloss(ActiononHearingLoss, 2016)
• Amongpeopleovertheageof80,morewomenthanmenhavehearingloss,which is due to women living longer than men on average, not because women are more likely to become deaf (Action on Hearing Loss, 2016)
Dual Sensory Loss (Deafblind)
Deafblindness is when a combination of both sight and hearing loss cause difficulties in communication, mobility and access to information. People can be born deafblind, or become deafblind through illness, accident or in older age. Deafblindness is a growing issue in the UK (SENSE, 2010). Dual sensory loss can be found in all age groups, including children, but the incidence is greatest in older adults. Once again, this number is set to grow substantially over the next two decades as the population ages.
The following table sets out the estimated numbers of people of all ages with some degree of and more severe dual sensory loss (RNIB, n.d).
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 Sensory impairment