Hundreds of hearing aids lost amid face covering rules

Hundreds of people have lost their hearing aids since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with many reporting they’ve gone missing after taking off their face covering.

NHS Tayside is now appealing for the public’s help to reunite the lost devices with their owners if they find one in the street.

Since April, the health board has replaced 849 lost aids – with 159 in September alone.

Samantha Batty, head of audiology and balance services for NHS Tayside, said: “A number of patients have contacted us as they have lost their hearing aids when removing their face covering.

“This could be outside shops, when they get off the bus, outside hospitals and so on.”

All NHS hearing aids are traceable through their serial number, so if found they can be returned to the correct patient.

Ms Batty added: “I would ask any member of the public that finds a hearing aid to return it to us.

“I would also ask anyone who has unused NHS hearing aids at home to return them to us.

“All NHS hearing aid users are advised to take particular care as they remove any face coverings to help prevent losing their hearing aid and the inconvenience this causes patients.”

If you find a hearing aid in the Tayside region, return it freepost to the Audiology Department, Tayside NHS Board, Freepost SC0 6181, Dundee, DD3 8ZR.