Deaf services - Suffering in silence

Delays in delivering essential services to hundreds of people who are deaf or hard of hearing typifies a health system where those most in need are usually first in the firing line of cutbacks.

It is shameful that some of the most vulnerable people in society have to face waiting lists of up to two years for vital services such as new or replacement hearing aids because of cuts imposed by the HSE.

So limited is the service in some communities, according to Deafhear.ie, children and elderly people cannot access the necessary aids because of funding cuts and a shortage of specialist staff.