Digital technologies for the early detection and initial diagnosis of adult hearing loss (provisional title)

Status:

In progress

Technology type:

Device

Decision:

Selected

Reason for decision:

Anticipate the topic will be of importance to patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and the health of the public to ensure clinical benefit is realised, inequalities in use addressed, and help them make the best use of NHS resources

Process:

HTE

Description:

Hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in the hearing system that prevents sound signals from reaching the brain. It is the second most common cause of disability in the UK. Around 6.7 million adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet only an estimated 2 million currently use them. Many people with gradual hearing loss delay getting treatment sometimes through a lack of awareness. Diagnosis can take up to 10 years and is often made incidentally during opportunistic assessments in primary care. Untreated hearing loss is associated with stigma, social isolation, depression, an increased risk of dementia, and reduced quality of life. Audiology services face severe workforce shortages and have some of the longest NHS waiting times. Digital audiometers use pure tone audiometry to detect whether a person is experiencing hearing loss by observing their response to sounds of varying pitches and volumes. These technologies are often portable and can be used outside audiometry services including in primary care or community settings. Use of digital audiometers to monitor people at increased risk of hearing loss could facilitate early detection and initial diagnosis and so help ensure timely and appropriate referrals to audiology services. Earlier identification of hearing loss may enable faster access to a formal diagnosis, to hearing aids and other interventions, potentially reducing the psychological, social, and emotional impacts of hearing loss. In this assessment, NICE will evaluate digital audiometers to support the initial diagnosis and early detection of hearing loss. It will review the evidence that is available and assess the potential clinical and cost-effectiveness of the technologies, as well as identify evidence gaps to help direct evidence generation.

Provisional Schedule

Scoping workshop:

21 May 2026

Final scope:

09 June 2026

Project Team

Project lead

Bruce Smith

Email enquiries

If you have any queries please email HealthTech2@nice.org.uk

Timeline

Key events during the development of the guidance:

For further information on our processes and methods, please see our HealthTech programme manual.