{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T07:06:31Z","timestamp":1783926391229,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783900800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Adult hearing loss is common, disabling, and frequently under-detected, with help-seeking often delayed and unmet need unevenly distributed across populations. In the UK, adult hearing-loss screening is not currently recommended, and detection largely depends on self-recognition, primary-care presentation, and referral. This Policy Brief examines three policy options: maintaining the status quo, introducing age-based screening at 60, 65 and 70 years, and implementing targeted risk-based screening through existing health-service pathways for adults at elevated risk of cognitive decline. Appraisal against public health impact, feasibility, equity, and economic considerations suggests that targeted risk-based screening is the most immediately viable option. A phased pilot embedded in dementia, mild cognitive impairment, NHS Health Check, and audiology pathways could generate implementation evidence while improving equitable access to hearing care.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1904770","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T06:20:55Z","timestamp":1783923655000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Targeted adult hearing loss screening in the UK: policy options for equitable implementation through health-service pathways"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Francesco","family":"Aletta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Environment Energy and Resources, University College London","place":["London, United Kingdom"]},{"name":"Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, 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