In this, the fourth in our blog series imagining the future of hearing health, Crystal Rolfe RNID Director of Strategy hears from Dr Dave Smith, the UK’s National Technology Adviser (NTA).
Dave shares ideas on how innovative technologies have the potential to enhance access to hearing care and improve health outcomes for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Approximately 6 million people who need hearing healthcare in the UK aren’t accessing it. For those that are accessing it, people continue to struggle to fully benefit from their hearing technology.
At RNID, we believe there is a real opportunity to transform NHS hearing healthcare to meet these demands and deliver a more cost-effective model, leading to better health outcomes.
Crystal: As the National Technology Adviser, what ideas in hearing healthcare technology are you most excited about?
Dave: One of the most thrilling advancements in hearing care is the rise of personalised digital hearing solutions.
Digital hearing aids are life-changing, and for years many have been using algorithms and data science to improve sound quality.
However, recent advances in AI now promise something even more extraordinary: an experience tailored in real time, adapting automatically to a user’s unique hearing needs.
So, for example, a hearing aid can in one moment tackle the biggest need of most people with hearing loss, which is hearing speech through background noise, like the bustle of a restaurant. And then in the next moment, the same hearing aid can adapt smoothly to a quiet environment.
Already today, top end hearing aids can do amazing things. For example, they can start to mimic how the brain interprets sound; they can recognise the voices of friends, family and colleagues, prioritising them over other noise. Some can even remember that you make certain adjustments in different environments, like watching TV, and learn to automatically provide you with these settings without you having to lift a finger—this technology is here, and it’s a game-changer.
Another development I’m enthusiastic about is Auracast. This isn’t a technology developed for hearing loss, it’s an evolution of Bluetooth which allows someone to broadcast something to everyone nearby.
It’s a technology that can be used by everyone, with high-quality audio can be sent directly to compatible earbuds, headphones, hearing aids or cochlear implants.
It is in some TVs already, but imagine if it was also used by those making announcements in busy train stations or airports, in addition to the usual distorted loudspeaker, regardless of the chaos around everyone, including those with hearing loss, could hear clearly on an earpiece.
This summer, I had the honour of hosting a workshop at the Digital Catapult building with RNID, tech companies, and government officials to explore how we can accelerate Auracast adoption. The excitement in that room was palpable, and it’s a future I’m eager to help make a reality.
Crystal: How can technology improve experiences in hearing healthcare?
Dave: The real challenge goes beyond just creating solutions for hearing loss and is about ensuring those solutions reach everyone who needs them.
For many people, getting to an audiology clinic can be challenging, whether they live in rural area, have difficulty travelling, or simply find it hard to take time out of their busy lives. Teleaudiology – remote care through video consultations and hearing aid apps – bridges this gap, offering expert help from the comfort of your home or on the go.
Imagine being able to fine-tune your hearing aids or get advice from a specialist without the need for travel. This isn’t just convenience; it’s a lifeline for many.
Over-the-counter hearing aids, developed by both hearing tech and consumer tech companies, and available in the US, are poised to make getting personalised amplification easier than ever.
By innovating both devices and the way they are accessed, there is potential to encourage more people to address their hearing loss earlier and more options for support.
Crystal: How do we ensure technology meets people’s needs?
Dave: To truly make an impact, we must put people first and access isn’t just about cost.
We need user-centred design to drive this area of technology, where input from individuals, audiologists, and clinicians shape every step of development.
Hearing solutions should be intuitive and adaptable, which means they can deal with the spectrum of experiences faced by people every day.
Making sure users feel confident with their technology can be the difference between an unused device and life-changing support.
Data security matters here just as it does on our phones or in a hospital IT system.
Hearing health data might feel deeply personal and, since devices will become more interconnected, we have to be careful to protect this information. Privacy must be built into the design of these technologies, to make people feel safe and in control.
Crystal: Finally, how do you think technology could improve hearing health in the future
Dave: The future holds even more promise.
Picture this world where hearing aids seamlessly integrate with other technology around us, adjusting on the fly to suit us, in our surroundings.
This isn’t far-off science fiction; we can see it on the near horizon. But to get there, we must keep our focus on ensuring technology is still accessible, affordable, and, most importantly, responsive to the real needs of those who use it.
Technology has the power to make hearing healthcare more inclusive and also life-changing.
By working together – tech innovators, healthcare professionals, and people with hearing loss – we can ensure no one is left behind.
We’re building a future where hearing loss is no longer a barrier to living fully, and that’s a future worth striving for.
Share your idea
These are just a few ideas of how technology can support the future of hearing healthcare in the UK.
We’ve been inspired to hear ideas from people with hearing loss, healthcare professionals, academics, and technology experts.
As a national charity we believe that by working in collaboration to test and develop solutions with people who are deaf, have hearing loss, and tinnitus, we can make the future better for hearing health.
If you have an idea for the future of hearing healthcare, let us know by emailing [email protected].
More like this
We’ve been excited to hear a variety of ideas from people with hearing loss, healthcare professionals, academics, and technology experts, on what they think could be the future for hearing healthcare.