Publication ( PDF , 981.92 KB ) - Gezondheidsraad

Most of the research in non-academic institutes is in the form of separate ad hoc
projects. These are mainly short-term projects concerned with the activities and
participation of the hard of hearing and projects directed towards auditory aids
and technology. Epidemiological research is hampered by the considerable
diversity in terms and definitions, which makes it very difficult, if not impossible
to combine different groups of data and registrations. Standardisation could do
much to stimulate epidemiological research.
With respect to primary prevention, behavioural-sociological research is necessary
to determine how young people, but also adults, can be persuaded to avoid
high-risk behaviour. With respect to secondary prevention, the implementation of
the neonatal hearing screening should be strictly monitored. It is vitally important
that the care chain is adapted to the new situation. Research into speech and
language development can contribute to the detection of non-congenital hearing
loss.
Concerning the elderly, it is clear that an early diagnosis of hearing loss is vital for
minimising the loss of residual hearing. The screening of persons aged 55 years
and over is worthwhile, as long as this is preceded by research into the expected
response and possible risk profiles. Of course there is an ongoing need for
research into the causes (genetic and other) of hearing loss.
A greater social awareness of what hearing loss is and of its possible consequences
could contribute to an improved acceptance of people with hearing loss and might
also have positive effect with respect to prevention. The Council recommends
increasing this awareness by means of social-societal research and public
information programmes.
Social-societal research is also necessary to gain a better insight into the
consequences of hearing loss and to improve the supervision of the hard of
hearing in learning to cope with the hearing loss. A much heard complaint from
interest groups and parents' associations is that tertiary prevention is all too often
limited to the prescription of a hearing aid.
At an international level the interest in hearing research is also limited, as can be
seen from the very small number of European research projects. However, outside
of the Netherlands there are a number of larger institutes that were founded with
the intention of supporting hearing research (for example, the National Institute
for Deafness and other Communication Disorders in the United States and
Hörtech in Germany).
6