Sensory health: The importance of innovation to help transform diagnosis, treatment and management

Posted on by DigitalHealth.London

Sensory Health is the initial focus of DigitalHealth.London Healthcare Challenges, a new programme delivered by DigitalHealth.London and the Health Innovation Network South London that brings together clinicians, other health system stakeholders, innovators and people with lived experience to identify and accelerate solutions to priority health issues. The programme helps the NHS explore new ideas, address gaps in care and support the adoption of effective technologies.

Sensory health is central to the human experience, encompassing hearing, vision, touch, taste and smell. It is fundamental to how we communicate, learn, navigate our surroundings and maintain independence, yet it is often overlooked within mainstream health policy and service design. When any of these sensory systems are impaired, the impact can be wide-ranging, affecting physical health, mental wellbeing, social connection and overall quality of life.

Auditory health has been identified as the first area of focus for the DigitalHealth.London Healthcare Challenges. With over 25% of adults in the UK living with deafness, hearing loss or tinnitus, there is a pressing need to explore how innovation can transform diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support. This blog introduces the challenges facing auditory health and how emerging technologies offer a significant opportunity to reshape care pathways.

The scope of auditory health challenges

Auditory health relates to our ability to hear, process sound and communicate, which plays an essential yet often undervalued role in how we experience the world. In the UK, it is estimated that more than 18 million adults are deaf, have hearing loss or live with tinnitus. Despite the widespread prevalence of hearing loss and related auditory conditions, people often face significant barriers in accessing timely care.

Current approaches to testing for hearing problems in childhood result in significant health inequalities; children with autism or learning disabilities are more likely to experience hearing loss and less likely to be diagnosed accurately, leading to delays in speech and social development. Work to address these disparities is in its early stages, with a recent Health Innovation Network South London evaluation of Ear Checks in Residential Special Schools identifying significant unmet need, as well as promising results from a pilot of a new model of care.   

Stigma and misconceptions can also discourage people from accessing help for hearing-related problems arising in later life, with people waiting up to 10 years before seeking a hearing assessment. This delay in diagnosis can impact social connection, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.

A growing social concern

The prevalence of auditory health challenges continues to rise as our population grows and ages, reflecting not only age-related physiological changes but also the cumulative effects of noise pollution. While older adults experience the highest rates of hearing loss due to natural degeneration of auditory structures, the broader population is also increasingly affected by environmental noise, urbanisation and lifestyle factors that contribute to early-onset or progressive hearing difficulties.

From constant sound in busy cities to recreational noise from music and technology, these influences create a sound environment that places stress on hearing across all age groups. As a result, auditory health is becoming a significant public health concern, shaped by demographic shifts, environmental conditions, and the acoustic landscape of modern life.

With over half the population aged 55 or above experiencing hearing loss, The 2024 Lancet Commission also identified hearing loss as the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia from mid-life. This is because untreated hearing loss increases cognitive load, reduces auditory stimulation to key brain regions and contributes to social isolation, all of which are associated with accelerated cognitive decline. Early identification and intervention can therefore play a critical role in protecting cognitive health over time.

Conditions such as tinnitus, auditory processing difficulties (how the brain interprets and makes sense of the sounds we hear) and age-related hearing decline add further complexity, highlighting the need for proactive, accessible support throughout the auditory pathway.

These challenges place mounting pressure on the NHS. Audiology services face increasing demand for assessments, fittings and follow-up support, while staff must balance clinical work with growing administrative burdens. Without new approaches, the gap between patient need and system capacity will continue to widen.

Innovation as a tool for transformation

Innovation has the potential to reduce barriers to accessing auditory services, with developing products and services demonstrating the potential to empower individuals to manage their own hearing health and make clinical processes more efficient. These include:

Today’s hearing aids are far more advanced than traditional models. AI-enabled devices automatically adjust to different environments such as quiet rooms, busy streets or cafes, improving speech clarity and learning from user behaviour over time. These smart technologies make hearing support more intuitive and personalised. Some NHS Trusts are now offering this new generation of hearing aids, dramatically improving the ability of users to interact in busy environments.

Telehealth has reshaped how auditory care is delivered. Remote hearing tests, virtual consultations, and online follow-ups reduce the need for travel and increase flexibility, particularly for people in rural areas or with limited mobility. Remote fine-tuning also saves time for clinicians and supports faster issue resolution. Many modern hearing assistance devices are designed to be used with smartphones, allowing for software-based adjustment by users or healthcare professionals.

A growing range of apps support self-management, including tinnitus sound-therapy apps, auditory training tools, and platforms that help people understand and track their hearing health. These resources improve engagement and adherence to treatment.

More NHS settings are adopting wireless hearing loops, speech-to-text systems, and improved acoustic design. These tools help ensure clinical environments are accessible for people with hearing loss, improving communication and reducing anxiety for patients. For example, King’s College Hospital has recently undertaken a major project to improve hearing-loop systems at reception desks and within outpatient departments.

Data is increasingly being used to understand patient outcomes, anticipate service demand, and personalise care. Predictive tools can identify individuals at higher risk of deterioration, enabling earlier intervention and more tailored treatment plans.

DigitalHealth.London and the Health Innovation Network South London are collaborating with auditory stakeholders in London to identify innovations that have the potential to improve the pathway for patients.

If you are interested in learning more about DigitalHealth.London Healthcare Challenges programme, or you are an innovator that is addressing challenges specific to this pathway, please get in touch.

DigitalHealth.London Healthcare Challenges is funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It is delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London in partnership with the Office of Life Sciences, CW+, NHS England and the Mayor of London.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-
shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.

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