The NHS was established on July 5, 1948, to provide comprehensive health care, significantly improving life expectancy and patient care for millions. Over the decades, advancements in hearing loss treatment included the introduction of hearing aids and cochlear implants, despite ongoing challenges in curing certain types of deafness. Currently, with over 10 million people in the UK experiencing hearing loss, the NHS continues to evolve its services, focusing on preventative care and addressing budgetary constraints.

1. NHS
The
Since 1948
Helping people hear

2. Following World War II,
the elected Labour
government went to
work implementing a
plan to create new ways
to care for Britain's
people. After three
years of work, and
cooperation across the
political spectrum, the
NHS was officially
started on 5 July 1948
with the opening of the
Park Hospital in
Manchester.
A True National Service
A comprehensive health and rehabilitation
services for prevention and cure of disease

3. Decades of Care
Staff across the NHS are in
contact with more than 1.5
million patients and their
families every day
Each month, 23 million
people (almost three times
the population of London)
visit their GP surgery or
practice nurse.
Both men and women
live an average of 10
years longer than they
did before the creation
of the NHS in 1948.

4. 1948 through 1957
The three main developments
that affected the treatment of
hearing loss were the use of
antibiotics, the advent of
improved anaesthesia, and the
creation of a new microscope
that allowed for more precise
surgical techniques.
The NHS also began to advocate the use of hearing aids in their early years. A model created
by Medresco was used regularly by the service. Created in Dollis Hill by a very early version of
British Telecom, these devices were offered by the NHS up until the 1970s. The device used a
radio transmitter for sound amplification.
NHS Hearing Care

5. 1958 through 1967
Moving into the 1960s,
hearing care took a course
to predictive and
preventative care, and the
NHS was an active leader
in trying to minimise the
negative effects of hearing
loss. During this time,
routine hearing tests for
children were introduced in
mass.
Preventative Hearing
Care

6. 1968 through 1977
New Technology Changes
the Hearing Aid
During the 1970s, the use of an electret/FET microphone was introduced. The innovation played
an important role in every hearing aid. With the development of this technology, it meant that the
device’s receiver and mic could be kept together. That allowed for the development of behind-
the-ear, in-the-ear, and inside-the-canal hearing aids.

7. It was during the 1980s that doctors
had the ability to improve hearing
impairment due to structural problems
with the bones in the middle ear. But
despite advancements in surgical
techniques, there was still no medical
cure or surgical process to solve
sensorineural deafness. And, despite
similar advancements in hearing aid
technology, there was no effective
method for the amplification of sound
for the deaf.
A Search for a Cure 1978 through 1987

8. In March 1989, a doctor from
University College Hospital in
London took one of his patients to
meet MPs at the House of
Commons. Based on those
meetings, the Minister of Health
was able to secure £3 million to
establish six cochlear implant
centres. By 1996, 800 adults and
600 children had been implanted
in a continuing programme to help
people hear.
1988 through 1997
A Modern Approach to
Sensorineural Deafness

9. Hearing Care, the NHS and
the 21st Century
There are more than 10
million people in the UK
with some form of hearing
loss, or one in
six of the population.
From the total figure,
around 6.4 million are of
retirement age (65+)
and about 3.7 million are of
working age (16 – 64).
The NHS continues to be
dedicated to providing the
best in treatment,
preventative care, and
impairment solutions.

10. Budget Challenges
Today, a new ‘Action Plan on Hearing
Loss’ to support services for deaf people
and those with diminishing hearing has
been produced.
The report identifies multiple health and
social issues associated with hearing
loss. It recommends ways that services
for children, young people, working age
and older adults living with hearing loss
can be improved.
The direct cost to the NHS of managing hearing loss is estimated to be up to £450 million a year.
Despite some on-going budgetary woes through the health service, the NHS’s Clinical
Commissioning Groups will continue to decide what is commissioned locally to address local
hearing needs.

11. Resources
for the
Hearing Impaired
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hearing-impairment/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/
http://www.hearinglink.org/
https://hearinglosspages.wordpress.com/
https://hearbetterwithhearingloss.wordpress.com/
http://ahearingloss.com/
http://www.hearingaidknow.com/
http://livingwithhearingloss.com/
http://www.hearingcareblog.com/
http://hearinghealthmatters.org/
http://limpingchicken.com/
http://www.healthyhearing.com/
www.ageukhearingaids.co.uk