World Health Assembly 2012: Hearing loss
On May 21, 2012, in her address at the 65th World Health Assembly, Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization stated “WHO estimates that nearly 40% of people older than 65 years have a disabling hearing impairment.” She said that “WHO has launched an initiative to develop appropriate assistive devices for the world’s rapidly ageing populations. These are things like mobile phones adapted for the visually impaired and robust low-cost hearing aids.” She also commented on the fact that “affordability is important, but so are simplicity and ease of use, as this relieves some of the pressure on specialized care and further reduces costs.”
As per the World Report on Disability, 2011, 62 million persons over the age of 60 years’ experience hearing loss, of which 70% live in the low and middle income countries.
A number of measures can be used to improve functioning and independence of the ageing population suffering with hearing loss. These include assistive listening devices, speech reading, good environmental acoustics and assistive technologies, such as hearing aids.
The need and unmet need for hearing aids is huge. In developed countries, experts estimate that about 20% of all persons with hearing loss need hearing aids, suggesting 56 million potential hearing aid users worldwide. It is estimated that current hearing aid production meets only 10% of the global need and only 3% of the need in developing countries. The prohibitive cost of the devices and batteries as well as the stigma attached with hearing loss and use of hearing aids are the main barriers to their effective use. Creation of awareness regarding the problems of hearing loss and benefits of rehabilitation, is an essential part of a hearing assessment and hearing aid fitting and should be included as part of a geriatric care programme.
Activities at the World Health Organization for prevention of deafness and hearing impairment assist Member States in reducing and eventually eliminating avoidable hearing impairment and disability through appropriate preventive and rehabilitative measures.
It's aim is to provide technical support to Member States for development and implementation of national plans for primary ear and hearing care through the primary health care systems.
- WHO World report on disability, 2011.
- Hearing Aids Services: Needs and Technology Assessment for Developing Countries: report of a WHO/CBM workshop; WHO 1999.
- WHO Guidelines for hearing aids and services in developing countries: 2nd edn, 2004.
Highlights
WHO fact sheet on hearing loss.
Primary ear and hearing care training resources
A training resource aimed at reducing deafness and hearing problems in developing countries.
AREAS OF WORK:
FEATURES:
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Worldwide hearing care for developing countries (WWHearing)
WHO and WWHearing developed a collaboration to provide affordable hearing aids
