Forum: Better tracking needed to measure hearing loss

Hearing loss is a lot more than an ear issue, and is linked to cognitive decline, loneliness, increased fall risk, malnutrition, and even diabetes (

Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here’s why you should not ignore it,

Aug 12).

These connections are well established in global research. Yet in Singapore, hearing loss remains inconsistently tracked at the population level.

The latest National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2024 contains no data on hearing loss. The last time the survey reported prevalence using pure-tone audiometry was in 2010. Since then, hearing data has surfaced only sporadically, often in response to parliamentary queries or public concern.

This gap is troubling, especially as Singapore’s population ages rapidly. By 2030, one in four citizens will be aged 65 and above. Yet previous NPHS reports have not broken down prevalence for those aged 70 and above, even though this group is most affected.

Countries such as the United States, England, Australia, Japan, South Korea and China include hearing loss in national surveys, often using pure-tone audiometry as standards. Within Asean, Thailand and the Philippines have documented its use in national-level studies. Singapore and its regional peers have yet to adopt consistent, objective monitoring practices.

Without robust data, hearing loss remains overlooked in policy planning, clinical care, and public awareness.

The 2023 NPHS cited a rise in self-reported hearing loss from 1.3 per cent in 2013 to 9.2 per cent in 2023, with the steepest increase among those aged 60 and above.

But self-reporting may miss many cases, especially among older adults who may not recognise or disclose their hearing difficulties. Its binary format (hearing loss: yes or no) limits assessment of severity, progression and intervention needs.

Singapore has made progress through initiatives like Project Silver Screen, hearing aid subsidies via the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund, and community hearing clinics. However, without consistent national data, the true burden may remain under-recognised, making it harder to integrate hearing care into clinical pathways or provide timely treatment.

As a hearing care professional and public health advocate, I urge policymakers to reintroduce objective hearing assessments into national surveys, include hearing questions in routine consults, and train healthcare professionals to recognise hearing loss as a systemic risk factor.

Let us listen, measure, and care better for our ageing population.

William Go