Photo: Emma Balmaine, CEO, Irish Heart Foundation and Duncan Graham, General Manager, Hidden Hearing
More than 10,000 free hearing, ear and heart health checks were carried out across Ireland during the first year of a partnership between Hidden Hearing and the Irish Heart Foundation.
The checks were delivered at 83 community events, bringing preventive health services directly to local venues including shopping centres, libraries, festivals and community groups.
Hidden Hearing and the Irish Heart Foundation are celebrating the successful first year of their nationwide health partnership, which has delivered thousands of free hearing and heart health checks to communities across Ireland.
Over the past 12 months, as part of a joint initiative, the organisations have conducted 3,833 heart health checks and 6,842 hearing and ear health checks at 83 joint events across Ireland helping thousands of people take proactive steps towards better hearing and heart health.
The collaboration brought together expert Irish Heart Foundation nurses and Hidden Hearing specialists, and both organisations’ Mobile Health Units, to offer free, accessible preventive healthcare directly to people in their local communities. Throughout the year, the initiative visited marts, shopping centres, festivals, libraries, local clubs and community groups, making it easier than ever for people to access essential health checks without the need for an appointment.
Open to everyone, the checks provided valuable insights into both hearing and heart health, while raising awareness of the importance of early detection and prevention. The initiative also highlighted the often-overlooked connection between heart health and hearing. Poor circulation can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, contributing to permanent hearing loss and symptoms such as tinnitus. Regular health checks can help identify issues early, supporting better long-term outcomes for
both hearing and cardiovascular health.
Hidden Hearing continues to encourage people, particularly those over 50, to make hearing checks part of their regular health routine. The Irish Heart Foundation’s blood pressure and pulse checks remain a key focus, given that 71% of people over 50 in Ireland are living with high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and heart attack.
Speaking about the success of the partnership, Dolores Madden, Marketing Director at Hidden Hearing, said: “Ireland’s strength is its communities, and this initiative has brought vital health services directly into them. Working with the Irish Heart Foundation, we’ve made it easier for people to care for both their hearing and their heart health. It’s been fantastic to see thousands take that step.”
Janis Morrissey, Deputy CEO & Director of Services at the Irish Heart Foundation added: “High blood pressure is a silent killer in Ireland. With Hidden Hearing’s support, we’ve reached more communities than ever with free health checks that help people understand their health and take action early. It shows what can be achieved when organisations work together to improve access to preventive healthcare.”
Following the success of the first year of the partnership, Hidden Hearing and the Irish Heart Foundation will continue to bring their Mobile Health Units together to communities nationwide, helping even more people access convenient health checks close to home.
To find out where the Mobile Health Units will be visiting next, follow Hidden Hearing and the Irish Heart Foundation on their social media channels.
