On 6 May 2026, EFHOH welcomed the adoption by the European Commission of the new EU Anti-Poverty Strategy measures, including the reinforcement of the EU Disability Strategy, European Child Guarantee and European Affordable Housing Plan.
For hard of hearing people, poverty and exclusion are closely linked to:
- high and unaffordable assistive technology costs.
- unequal reimbursement systems for hearing aids and cochlear implants.
- barriers to access reasonable accommodation at work.
- inaccessible housing and emergency systems.
The higher cost of living associated with hearing loss must be recognised as part of the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
As the EU steps up action to reduce poverty across Europe, accessibility, affordability of assistive technologies and equal participation for hard of hearing people must remain central to implementation efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.
Read the Commission’s press release here.
