Talking About Access to Hearing Care at Holyrood
Earlier this month, Michael travelled to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood to take part in the launch of a new sector-wide report, It’s Time to Talk About Hearing. The event brought together clinicians, policymakers and hearing‑care leaders to discuss how Scotland can better support people with hearing loss — and why awareness matters more than ever.
The report — published by Specsavers and available to read here — highlights the scale of untreated hearing loss across the UK and the impact it has on communication, wellbeing and social connection. While produced by a major provider, the themes are universal: people wait too long to seek help, and hearing loss is still far too easy to ignore.
Michael`s role at the event was to represent BSHAA members and contribute to the wider discussion about how we can encourage earlier conversations, reduce stigma and make hearing support more accessible for everyone in Scotland.
Why awareness matters
Hearing loss rarely happens overnight. It creeps in gradually, often unnoticed, until the small moments — conversations in busy rooms, the TV volume creeping up, missing parts of sentences — start to add up.
Events like this one at Holyrood help keep hearing health on the national agenda. They remind us that hearing care isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental part of staying connected to the people and experiences that matter.
Free hearing tests in Motherwell
At Audibility, we’re proud to offer free hearing tests to our community here in Motherwell. Whether you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or simply want a baseline check, our clinic provides a calm, friendly space to understand what’s happening and what support is available.
The more we talk about hearing, the easier it becomes for people to take that first step — and events like this one at Holyrood play a valuable part in that journey.
Looking ahead
Michael left Holyrood encouraged by the conversations taking place and the shared commitment to improving hearing health across Scotland. There’s still work to do, but every discussion helps move us closer to a future where hearing care is understood, accessible and embraced without hesitation.
