Untreated hearing loss is emerging as a major health, social and economic issue, with new research suggesting it is costing New Zealand more than $1 billion every year.
New Zealand Hearing Industry Association CEO Barney Irvine says hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are living with untreated hearing loss, with consequences extending well beyond simply struggling to hear.
The research points to lost workplace productivity, poorer health outcomes and increased social isolation as part of the wider cost being carried by individuals, whānau, employers and the country.
MORE THAN JUST HEARING
Hearing loss can gradually change how people participate in everyday life.
Difficulty following conversations can affect relationships, employment and participation in community activities, while people may begin withdrawing from situations where communication becomes difficult.
For older New Zealanders in particular, untreated hearing problems can contribute to isolation at a time when maintaining social connections is increasingly important.
Irvine says the findings demonstrate hearing health needs to be considered as part of the wider health system rather than treated as an issue people simply have to live with.
A BILLION-DOLLAR ECONOMIC COST
The research estimates untreated hearing loss is costing the country more than $1 billion annually, bringing the economic consequences of hearing health into sharper focus.
Lost productivity can occur when people struggle to communicate effectively in workplaces, experience difficulty performing particular tasks or leave employment earlier than they otherwise might.
But the cost extends beyond employment.
Poorer health outcomes and social isolation can create additional pressure across health and community services, meaning delaying hearing support can ultimately shift costs elsewhere.
THE HIDDEN NATURE OF HEARING LOSS
One of the challenges is that hearing loss can develop gradually.
Unlike an injury or sudden illness, deterioration may occur over years, with individuals adapting their behaviour without immediately recognising how significantly their hearing has changed.
Family members, friends and colleagues may notice the signs first.
That makes early identification important, particularly as New Zealand’s population ages and the number of people experiencing hearing difficulties is expected to remain a significant health issue.
ACCESS TO SUPPORT MATTERS
The findings also raise questions about how easily New Zealanders can access hearing assessments, devices and ongoing support.
Cost can become a barrier for some households, particularly when hearing assistance competes with housing, food, power and other everyday expenses.
For Māori and people living in rural communities, geographical access and existing health inequities can create additional barriers to diagnosis and treatment.
Ensuring people can access hearing healthcare earlier could therefore deliver benefits well beyond the individual.
FROM QUALITY OF LIFE TO ECONOMIC POLICY
The billion-dollar estimate changes the way the hearing-loss debate can be viewed.
This is not simply about whether somebody can hear the television or follow a conversation.
It is about participation in employment, connection with whānau, independence, health and the ability to remain actively involved in society.
And if untreated hearing loss is already costing Aotearoa more than $1 billion annually, the question for policymakers is whether investing earlier in prevention, testing and treatment could ultimately cost the country considerably less.
Hearing loss may happen quietly — but its impact on whānau, workplaces and the economy is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
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