UK's first hearing and sight loss survey launched

The sensory health survey has been launched across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

The UK’s first survey to collect data on vision and hearing loss has been launched across two counties.

The UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS) aims to record data to inform the NHS and policymakers and is a collaboration between sensory loss charities, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), eye and hearing care professionals and the public sector.

According to the study, the UK does not have an accurate set of data to help shape health policies and programmes and it is estimated that 50% of all sight loss is avoidable.

UKNEHS said Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been chosen for the project as they both have diverse populations with a range of socio-economic factors and rural and urban areas.

The study has received funding from charities and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

To carry out the survey, UKNEHS medical professionals will visit 750 randomly chosen households across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from October this year until February 2025. This will be followed by those aged 50 years and older being invited for a free specialist assessment.

Rupert Bourne, a professor of ophthalmology at ARU and chief investigator for the UKNEHS, said: “Hearing impairment costs the UK an estimated £30bn each year and visual impairment, including sight loss and blindness, £28bn.

“Despite these huge costs, the datasets currently used in the UK are of limited value, due to a reliance on international data, or UK data samples that are either very small scale, or not generalisable to the population as a whole.

“There is subsequently no robust evidence-base upon which to design a prevention strategy or plan services for the future that meet the population’s needs.”

Phase one of the study has seen UKNEHS teams visit care homes in the area to survey the sensory health of residents.

Nik Johnson, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “It’s fantastic news that out and about in the near future there will be teams visiting different areas of the county, and local people in the community will have the opportunity to get involved in this study.”