Read our key social research reports from 2019 to this year.
Investigating Variation in NHS Hearing Aid Services: A Research Note (2024)
Our research note shares insights from NHS hearing aid wearers and their experiences of NHS hearing aid services.
The results outline potential variation in hearing technology across NHS hearing aid providers and highlight concerns that some NHS hearing aid patients are being encouraged to purchase private hearing aids by their NHS provider.
The results also highlight issues accessing self-referral into hearing services.
Read more: Investigating Variation in NHS Hearing Aid Services: A Research Note (2024)
Subtitle It! Report (2023)
Our new report highlights the importance of subtitles – 9/10 people who filled out our survey who are deaf or have hearing loss usually or always use subtitles when watching TV. The report also shows that many people are still facing barriers accessing TV programmes using on-demand platforms as subtitles are not available consistently.
Download the Subtitle It Report (PDF, 1.8 MB)
The 2023 Subtitle It Report is an update to our 2015 Progress on Pause report, which found that 87% of people with hearing loss had started to watch a programme on-demand and found it had no subtitles. Additionally, 71% told us they felt they had missed out on, or been left out of, conversations with friends or family because of a lack of subtitles.
Read the Progress on Pause report (PDF, 1 MB).
Employer Insights Report (2023)
This report shares insight from employers, and recommendations from us, about how employers can become more inclusive for staff members who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. The insight and recommendations in this report are based on a serious of round tables with senior executives we held throughout 2022 and results from our online survey of professionals who recruit or line manage staff.
Download our Employer Insights Report.
Ear Wax Removal (2022)
This report presents the findings from our research exploring the experiences people have had when trying to access NHS ear wax removal services, what advice they were given, and the impact this had on them.
Download our ear wax report (PDF, 158 kb)
Changing world: the impact of Covid-19 on deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus (2021)
This report presents the findings from our research exploring the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus.
Download Changing world: the impact of Covid-19 on deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus (PDF, 141kb)
Access to remote GP appointments during COVID-19 (2020)
This report presents the initial findings of our research exploring the experiences of deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus when accessing remote GP appointments during the coronavirus pandemic
Download Access to remote GP appointments during COVID-19 (PDF, 137 KB)
Working for Change: Support and advice needed for people with hearing loss or deafness in work (2020)
We wanted to understand what support deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus would find most beneficial, so they can feel empowered to be open about their hearing loss and get the support they need in the workplace. This report brings together survey and qualitative research from 2019, in addition to previous research from RNID.
Download Working for Change 2020 (Word document, 4.47 MB)
Download Working for Change workplace experiences 2018 (PDF, 414 KB)
Download Working for Change survey 2018 (PDF, 402 KB)
Managing Hearing Loss When Seeking Or In Employment (2020)
We tested out different approaches to delivering lipreading support to people with hearing loss. We surveyed people with hearing loss to find out how they would like to receive support and the best way to deliver it outside of working hours.
Download Managing Hearing Loss when Seeking or in Employment report (PDF, 619 KB)
Speak Easy (2020)
Over 1,450 people who completed our Speak Easy survey told us that background noise is a huge problem for them when they are eating out. We produced a guide outlining steps cafés, bars and restaurants can take to reduce background noise and be fully accessible for people with hearing loss.
Download our Speak Easy Report (PDF, 2MB)
Valuing Audiology (2019)
Valuing Audiology looks at the performance of NHS hearing aid services in England, and sets out policy solutions to increase accountability, boost access, ensure adherence to national guidance, and make use of emerging technology.
Download Valuing Audiology summary report (PDF, 5 MB)
Download Valuing Audiology full report (PDF, 8 MB)