FIAPAS requires coverage of hearing aids at any age

The president of the Spanish Confederation of Families of Deaf People (FIAPAS), Maria del Carmen Sacaciahas called for a universal strategy for access to hearing aids “without discriminating against those over 26 years of age”, the age up to which they are funded so far.

“A true lifelong hearing health strategy is necessary,” he stated during the celebration, this Wednesday at the Congress of Deputies, in Madrid, of the ‘Hearing loss awareness and prevention dayorganized by the National Association of Hearing Aid Manufacturers and Importers (ANFIA).

In Sacacia’s opinion, “a comprehensive approach that includes prevention” is necessary, since “acting is being done in a fragmented manner.” Therefore, “real access to treatment” and “coverage of hearing aids” are required, he stressed, adding that there are “unjustifiable hearing barriers in Spain.”

“Hearing aids are not a luxurythey are a essential product for communication“, he continued, after which he insisted that it is “essential” that “the National Health System (SNS) addresses the provision in terms of universality.” “Hearing health requires dialogue between all the agents involved and the commitment of public powers,” he stated.

Furthermore, the highest representative of FIAPAS has declared that “hearing aids and, when appropriate, implants allow us to maintain the connection with the environment” to “participate in life.” On the other hand, “when a person does not have adequate resources, such as hearing aids and implants, they begin to progressively disconnect” in what is “unchosen” isolation, he explained.

ANFIA presents the ‘White Paper on Hearing Health 2026’ to bring it to public debate

In this context presented by Sacacia, ANFIA has presented the ‘White Paper on Hearing Health 2026‘, through which it has brought it, “finally, to the public debate” after being, “for too long, the great forgotten of welfare policies”, as its president has shown, Sandra Salobral.

Currently, we are experiencing “a paradigm shift,” he highlighted. “We feel the imperative obligation to disseminate the importance and raise awareness of the serious consequences of the passivity of the first signs,” he stressed.

Salobral recalled that “hearing loss is a determining factor in overall health and quality of life.” Thus, he stressed that, “in childhood”, it is “key in development”; while, in “the adult stage”, it affects “social and labor insertion”; and “in old age”, this “aggravates loneliness, dependency and cognitive deterioration.”

“Taking care of your hearing is protect the brain and connection to the world“, he continued, after which he added that, for this reason, hearing health must enter “on the public agenda.” “Hearing loss requires a strategic alliance,” since “hearing well-being must stop being an individual responsibility and become a collective one,” he explained.

In line with Salobral’s message that “taking care of your hearing is strengthening social cohesion”, the socio-health policy advisor of the consulting firm Political Intelligence, Santiago Cervera, has stated that “hearing health is a basic condition for life in common.”

Lack of hearing affects personality and social integration

This “affects fundamental elements of the personality and the capacity for social integration”, and is that, “without hearing, daily life deteriorates progressively and irreversibly”, he continued. However, this is “a very inconspicuous problem” and this despite the fact that it “affects millions of people,” he noted.

Cervera, who has rejected “the stigma” associated with this condition, has indicated that the White Paper presented seeks to offer “a complete look” and “generate that leverage effect, generate that change.” “Hearing is an unequivocal condition for equality,” he declared in this regard, which is why he demanded that it be “taken as public priority and shared responsibility”.

Delving into the relevance of hearing aids, the prosthetic and disseminating audiologist, Raquel Llorente, has stated that these should not remain “in a drawer”, since “a well-fitting hearing aid does not have to bother, it does not have to hurt.” These devices “are a communication center for these people,” indicated, for his part, the vice president of ANFIA, José Luis Otero.

“Hearing aids are effective,” emphasized the president of the National Association of Hearing Care Professionals (ANA), Francesc Carrero, while the manager of the convening association, Juan Menéndez-Tolosa, He pointed out that manufacturers have “a solution to a problem”, which is why he demanded that there be “debate” around hearing health.

Also participating in this event were the clinical neurophysiologist and Doctor in Neurosciences, the doctor Estela Lladó-Carbówho explained that “hypoacusis is the first treatable cause of prevention of cognitive deterioration.” There is “scientific evidence on the table so real and proven that doing nothing would be a crime,” he stressed in relation to hearing aids.

Finally, the secretary of the Health Commission of the Lower House intervened, Rafael Belmontewho pointed out that it is necessary to “guarantee hearing health”, and her counterpart, María Sainz, who thanked the “wake-up call” that the White Paper represents.

Along with them, the patient and member of the Children’s Oncological Association of Madrid (ASIÓN), Yadyra Lucía Acosta; the president of the Federation of Associations of Mothers and Fathers of Students of the Community of Madrid (FAPA Giner de los Ríos), María del Carmen Morillas; and the president of the Spanish Association of Audiology (AEDA), José Luis Blanco.