A RESEARCHER at a North-East university has found that many people with learning disabilities with hearing loss are not being diagnosed.

The research hearing loss in people with learning disabilities, by Lynzee McShea, who is studying a professional doctorate at the University of Sunderland, focuses on the current issues people with learning disabilities (PWLD) are facing and why they are left undiagnosed in the long-term.

The report, published in the British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, says PWLD are more likely to have hearing loss than the general population but are less likely to have this diagnosed and managed with hearing aids.

This is mainly because hearing loss diagnosis relies on self-referral, which is an initial barrier for PWLD.

Barriers can also be found during the hearing assessment and in after care, following hearing aid fitting.

The report calls for carers and support workers to receive a better education because those with learning disabilities often rely on them for detection and management of hearing loss.

Lynzee McShea, a senior clinical scientist in audiology at Sunderland Royal Hospital, claims more than 90 per cent of people with learning disabilities she has assessed have been diagnosed with hearing loss, despite fewer than 10 per cent of carers having any concerns.

Lynzee, said: “Healthcare professionals rely on family carers and paid support workers to detect hearing problems, support the individual to attend an assessment and to then ensure consistent hearing aid use and aftercare. This is a big ask and our research suggests most carers and support workers do not yet have the necessary skills to do this optimally.”

Sunderland University and Lynzee are now working with support workers to raise awareness of the benefit hearing aids can bring.

With at least 40 per cent of PWLD thought to have a hearing loss, this equates to hundreds of thousands of people in the UK with unmet needs.