LONDON, UK — A new study suggests that many adults are open to healthcare providers using artificial intelligence (AI) to support ear and hearing health assessments, particularly if it helps reduce waiting times and improve access to care.
The research found that more than two-thirds of adults would welcome the use of AI in ear and hearing health if it helped reduce waiting times (67%) or speed up assessment and referral (66%). The findings suggest growing confidence in healthcare professionals using technology to support clinical services.
Interest in Faster, Technology-Enabled Care
The study also highlights ongoing challenges around early action on hearing loss. Two in five adults (40%) who have experienced hearing loss said they regret not taking action sooner, while more than a quarter (28%) assumed early symptoms were “just ageing.”
The results point to potential opportunities for pharmacies and other community-based providers to combine in-person care with AI-supported screening tools that may help remove barriers to early intervention.
Convenience and accessibility also emerged as important factors. More than one in three respondents (37%) said they would be more likely to address hearing concerns if checks were low-cost, while over a quarter (28%) said easier access to services would encourage them to act.
Delays in Seeking Hearing Care
Although hearing loss often develops gradually, many people do not seek help when symptoms first appear. The study found that the most common trigger for action was when hearing problems began to interfere with daily life (39%). By that point, individuals may already be experiencing challenges with communication, confidence, or participation.
The findings suggest that AI-supported screening delivered in accessible and familiar settings could help shorten the gap between the first signs of hearing loss and formal clinical assessment.
“Public confidence in healthcare providers using AI to support ear and hearing health is a really important signal. People want faster access, clearer answers and fewer barriers. AI can now play an important role in supporting healthcare providers to have greater confidence in their assessment of a patient and determining next steps.”
–Dr Krishan Ramdoo, ENT surgeon and founder of TympaHealth
“It is important to note that this should not replace clinical judgment, but we are already seeing that providers who utilise technology within ear and hearing health examinations have seen a positive impact in increased patients seen, ultimately driving revenue at a time of sustained cost pressures,” said Dr. Ramdoo.
**Research methodology: The research was conducted between 17th – 18th 2026 by Obsurvant, on behalf of TympaHealth, surveying more than 1,000 people across the UK aged 18 and over.
About TympaHealth
TympaHealth is a team of doctors and technology experts united by a mission to help the world achieve better ear and hearing health.
Working with a broad range of healthcare providers including Pharmacy, Care, Audiology, GPs amongst others, TympaHealth provides the technology, training, ongoing clinical support and referral pathways to healthcare providers offering comprehensive ear and hearing services to their customers.
Source: TympaHealth
