millions live with hearing loss

7/30/2019 Millions Live With Hearing Loss

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Millions of people in the world

have hearing loss that can be

treated or prevented


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Photo: Patiricia Castellanos De Munoz, CEDAF, Guatemala


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1

360 million people live with

disabling hearing loss

32 million o these are children (


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pevalece of dsabl hea loss fo all oulato by selected eos*

(threshold >=41 dB or adults 15 years o age or more, and threshold >=31 dB

children under 15 years o age, WHO 2011 estimates)

2

Disabling hearing loss prevalence per 100 population

2.72% 4.41%

4.42% 6.13%

6.14% 7.58%

Data not available

Not applicable

*Selected regions: High-income, Central/ Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Sahara Arica, Middle East and North Arica, South Asia, Asia Pacifc,Latin America and Caribbean, and East Asia.

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply the expression

o any opinion whatsoever on the part o the World Health Organization concerning the legal status o

any country, territory, city or area or o its authorities, or concerning the delimitation o its rontiers or

boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines or which there may not yet be

ull agreement.

Data Source: WHO Deaness Prevalence Estimates (MBD Unit)

Map Production: Prevention o Blindness and Deaness (PBD Unit)

World Health Organization


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global estimates

Hearing loss is unevenly and unequally distributed across the world.

Nearly one third o people aged above 65 live with disabling hearing loss.Prevalence decreases exponentially as income increases.

axily 15% l ul uli g ig l; 25% g bv 65 y.

Source: MBD, WHO, 2011 DHL estimates.

3%

2.5%

2%

1.5%

1%

0.5%

0%

0

South Asia: 2.4%

Sub-Sahara Africa: 1.9%

Asia Pacific: 2%

East Asia: 1.3%

Middle East and North Africa: 0.92%

High Income: 0.5%

Latin America and Caribbean: 1.6%

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Y= 0.0266x - 0.334

P

revalenceofDisablingHearingLoss

forchildrenunder14yearsold

Average GNI per capita (thousands US Dollars)

Central/East Europe and Central Asia: 1.6%

pevalece of dsabl hea loss chlde vesus oss atoal come (gni)


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Photo:Nazmul Bari, CDD, Bangladesh


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ChroniC ear infeCtions

In some settings, the prevalence o chronic ear inections may be as high as 46%.Ear inections are usually accompanied by discharge rom the ear. This can lead to

hearing loss and may cause lie-threatening complications, such as meningitis and brain

abscesses.

Studies show that the global burden o illness rom chronic otitis mediab aects rom

65 to 330 million people with ear discharge.

Otitis media is largely preventable, and can be eectively managed through medical and

surgical approaches.

Incorporating primary ear care into primary health care is a cost-eective way to reduce

the long-term morbidity and mortality caused by chronic ear inections.

b Chronic otitis media: chronic ear inection.

ov 90% bu cic ici i b

by cui i su-e ai, w pcifc aic

rgi, ic iii i pcifc ri.


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Photo: Andrew Smith, LSHTM


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Childhood deafness

32 million children have disabling hearing loss. Causes include:

Maternal inections such as RubellaMeningitis, measles and mumps

Severe jaundice ollowing birth

Birth anoxiaChronic ear inections

Use o ototoxic medicines

Low birth weightNoise

Higher prevalence o childhood hearing loss is associated with lower levels o development

across regions, as illustrated in the fgure below:

Early detection and management o hearing impairments are important elements o appropriatesupport or dea or hearing-impaired babies, helping them to enjoy equal opportunities in society.

d ig-ii cil xic lyvl c, lgug cgiiv kill, ic y

ul i l lig ifculi i cl.

South Asia: 2.47%

Asia Pacific: 2.10%

East Asia: 1.35%Y= -0.002x + 0.3291

Middle East and North Africa: 0.95%

500%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Average parental literacy rate (% of population of 15 or more years old)

Prevalence

ofdisabling

hearing

lo

ss

for

children

under14

years

old

Latin America andCaribbean: 1.7%

Central/East Europeand Central Asia: 1.6%Sub-Sahara Africa: 2%

i

i

i i

i

i l i

i I

i i i

l l i

reoal evalece of dsabl hea loss chlde ude 14 yeas

vesus aveae adult lteacy


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Photo: Ron Brouillette, Tanzania


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age-related hearing loss

The prevalence o hearing loss among adults above 65 years is thought to be up to fve times

higher than that or people below 65 years old.

Age-related hearing loss is termed presbyacusis.

Exclusion rom communication can have a signifcant impact on everyday lie, causing a eeling

o loneliness, isolation and rustration, particularly among older people who have hearing loss.

The percentage growth in the number o people aged 65 years and above will be between

1850% rom 20102020 in all regions. The number o people with hearing loss will

consequently grow by similar proportions, paralleling these demographic changes.

c Ten-year projections (20102020) assuming no change in current prevalence rates o hearing loss.

abu i l bv65 y g vl iblig ig l.

pecetae owth wold oulato of eole 65 yeas o olde, betwee 2010 ad 2020.c

ProportionofHLcasesgrowth

for65+yearsoldpopulation

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

High income Central/ Eastern

Europe andCentral Asia

Sub-SaharanAfrica

Middle Eastand North

Africa

South Asia Asia Pacific Latin Americaand Caribbean

East Asia

25.8%

18.4%

38.0%

49.0%

42.9%

46.4%

44.1%

49.7%

i

i i

i

i l i

i ii

ll ii


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Photo: ULBRA, CBM


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noise is a major and avoidable

Cause of hearing loss

In many places, excessive noise has become the most compensated occupational hazard.Exposure to environmental noise has been linked to adverse health eects in the European

region. Exposure to excessive noise is a major avoidable cause o permanent hearing

loss worldwide.Noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable through improved

awareness.

hig l c l ccu llig u xic ici.

Some commonly used medicines (such as aminoglycosides and certain anti-malarial

medicines) can lead to irreversible hearing loss.

Ototoxicity can be prevented through awareness among health-care providers and by the

rational use o drugs.

d Ototoxic: Damaging to the ear(s).

ni i cu cc i ll cui.


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Photo: Piet Van Hasselt, CBM


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impaCt of hearing loss

The main impact o hearing loss is on the individuals ability to communicate with others.

Spoken language development in dea children is oten delayed.

Hearing loss and ear diseases such as otitis media have a signifcant adverse eect on

the academic perormance o children.

In some countries, cultural or superstitious belies regarding hearing loss may create a barrier

to prevention, treatment and/or rehabilitation.

People living with disabilities, including hearing loss, have a much higher unemployment rate.Among those who are employed, a higher percentage o people with hearing loss work in the

lower grades o employment, than in the general workorce.

Lack o services and access may be a reason or proportionally higher unemployment among

people with hearing loss.

In addition to its individual eects, hearing loss aects social and economic development incommunities and countries.

These negative impacts arise rom the interaction o hearing loss with the wider social

environment, and can be signifcantly mitigated through early identifcation and appropriate

management o hearing problems.

e WHO Prevention o Deaness and Hearing Impairment, Report by the Director General A 39/14, 1986

m iuly ig-ii cil ly civ yclig i vlig cui.


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Photo: Shelly Chadha, WHO


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hearing aids: an unmet need

It is estimated that in developing countries, about 20% o people who have hearing loss require

hearing aids, suggesting 72 million potential hearing aid users worldwide.

However, current production o hearing aids meets less than 10% o the global need.In

developing countries, less than 3% o people who need a hearing aid are thought to have one.

Making aordable and properly ftted hearing aids and ollow-up services available and

accessible in all parts o the world will beneft many people with hearing loss.

Hearing aid services must also address the issue o ftting, maintenance and battery provision.

It is important to ensure ull access to learning and living environments or all persons with

hearing loss. In particular, teaching in sign language benefts children with hearing loss, while

provision o captioning and sign language interpretation on television acilitates access to

inormation.

Cu uci ig i l 10% glbl .


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hearing loss Can be prevented

Immunization;

Eective antenatal and perinatal care;

Healthy ear and hearing care habits;

Eective treatment or both acute and chronic ear conditions;Avoiding the use o ototoxic drugs, unless prescribed by a qualifed physician and properly

monitored or correct dosage and side-eects;

Reerring babies or early assessment o hearing, including prompt diagnosis and appropriate

management, as required;

Reducing exposure (both occupational and recreational) to loud noises.

Hearing loss due to otitis media can be prevented by healthy ear and hearing care practices.It can be addressed through early detection, and appropriate medical or surgical interventions.

Early detection and intervention is the most important actor in minimizing the impact o

hearing loss on a childs development and educational achievements.

People with hearing loss should have access to improved communication through the use o

hearing devices, such as hearing aids, assistive listening devices and cochlear implants.

People with hearing loss can learn to communicate through development o lip-reading skills,

use o written or printed text, and sign language.

oc ig l ccu, g cy iy

ivi c l xiiz uciig iclui:

hig l i vbl ug ublic l u


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role of who

Assists Members States to develop suitableprogrammes or primary ear and hearing

care, integrated into the primary health care

system o the country.

Provides technical resources and guidance

or training.

Develops and disseminates guidelines to

address the major preventable causes o

hearing loss.

Builds partnerships to provide aordable

hearing aids and services to people in need.

Raises awareness about hearing loss aswell as the opportunities or prevention,

identifcation and management.

Maintains a global database to describe the

size and impact o the problem.

Photo: Rajiv Dhawan, India


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Millions of people in the world

have hearing loss that can be

treated or prevented

AwAreness is the key to prevention

Learn more about hearing loss, its impact, prevention and management at:

http://www.who.int/pbd/deaness

millions live with hearing loss

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