Heidi Ølnes has waited half a year for an appointment to have her right appliance adjusted. – That’s sad. When you can’t hear properly in the meantime, it becomes difficult to take part in everyday life. In rooms with lots of people, you simply don’t fit in. She has finally made an appointment at the hospital in Førde. Endre Langset, audiologist at the ENT department in Førde, is getting ready to adjust her right apparatus. About one million Norwegians live with impaired hearing, according to the Ministry of Health and Care. The need for facilitation is getting bigger and the waiting times are getting longer. – This is an anticipated crisis. There is already a wave of elderly people in Norway. The government must take action, Langset believes. FINAL HEARING TEST: It’s Heidi’s turn to take a hearing test. Photo: Annvor Seim Vestrheim / news Increase in waiting time At the beginning of 2023, the waiting time for fitting a hearing aid was about 6 months on average nationwide. In January/February this year, it was almost five weeks longer than at the same time last year, reports trade magazine Din Hørsel. Waiting time Expected waiting time for the specialist health service is the maximum waiting time in weeks for how long the lowest priority patients have to wait before they receive an examination or treatment, such as a hearing test, hearing aid fitting and tinnitus treatment. The waiting time can vary for people with the same diagnosis, based on how serious the illness is, the state of health of the individual, any use of medicine and whether the patient has other diagnoses. The Norwegian Directorate of Health, helsenorge.no and the website Select a treatment center publish the waiting times at the various hearing centers and hospitals in the country. The number is reported once a month. The figure shows the capacity of the treatment centre, but is not the guaranteed waiting time. Source: Din Hørsel, 2nd edition 2022. At Førde central hospital in Vestland, it takes around 9 months before you get an appointment, according to figures from Helsenorge. In Vestfold and Telemark, the waiting time is up to one year. Now patients with hearing loss risk waiting even longer for an appointment for examination, for follow-up or to have an old hearing aid replaced. 40 WEEKS: Førde central hospital has longer waiting times than the national average. Photo: Annvor Seim Vestrheim / news – Children and patients with acute hearing loss are given priority, but it is a shame that many others have to wait so long, says Karianne Strønen, head of department for ENT and jaw department in Førde. People across the country are frustrated at having to go so long without help. – Everyone who has problems with hearing experiences the same. It’s an awfully long time, says Norunn Ulvedal, head of the hearing impaired’s organization in Sunnfjord. Poor hearing causes social challenges Jostein Bildøy has had poor hearing since his youth. He himself has noticed that the waiting times have tripled during the years he has used hearing aids. It creates challenges in everyday life, both at work and in private life. He is afraid of not understanding everything that is said. – It creates a certain insecurity, he says. At work, I have to think about how I can plan the next three months with events, for example. MUST LISTEN: In his job as a leader and as a course and lecture presenter, it is absolutely necessary for Jostein Bildøy to take in what is being said. Photo: Annvor Seim Vestrheim / news The Ministry of Health and Welfare has the overall responsibility for all hospitals in Norway. According to State Secretary Ellen Rønning-Arnesen, they aim to reduce waiting times. – Waiting times must be reduced and hospitals have more remedies they can use. Patients can, for example, ask the hospital for help in finding another treatment centre, says Rønning-Arnesen. The Hearing Impaired National Association is well aware of the waiting time and is now calling for a national hearing plan. They hope it can oblige the Ministry of Health and Care to follow up people with hearing challenges in a long-term and good way. – It is about four things: More hands, fresh funds, increased quality and better interaction, says secretary general Inger Helene Venås. Shortage of audiographers Audiographers work with hearing testing, guidance and adaptation of hearing aids in specialist health services. But there are few who take this education. The Bachelor’s program in audiography at NTNU in Trondheim has 40 places, and is the only one of its kind in Norway. In 2022, there were 17 who completed the audiography course. CRISIS: – It is unfortunate that the waiting time affects the patients, says audiologist Endre Langset. Photo: Annvor Seim Vestrheim / news At the ØHN department in Førde, they notice that it is difficult to get hold of professionals. – We have a position lying around, but there are no applicants, says head of department Karianne Strønen. As a result, audiologist Endre Langset has to wait quite a while to get a new colleague. – And Norway is crying out for audiographers. This is a well-known crisis, it is nothing new. And that people are now surprised by the shortage of audiologists, that shocks me. Langset believes that there is only one solution. – A reimbursement scheme for audiographers would have reduced waiting times and made it more lucrative to train as an audiographer. In addition, I could have worked in the districts and been more available.
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Lack of audiologists makes it difficult to get hearing and hearing aids checked – news Vestland
