Recently, the World Report on Hearing (WRH) has been developed in response to the World Health Assembly resolution (WHA70.13). It was adopted in 2017 as a means of providing guidance for Member States to integrate ear and hearing care into their national health plans.
The First World Report on Hearing is a report, released by the World Health Organization (WHO) - a day ahead of World Hearing Day on 3rd March. The report has been developed in response to the World Health Assembly resolution.
The main objective of the report is to calculate and measures the data on hearing loss. It outlines available cost-effective solutions to prevent hearing loss.
There are many children who can benefit through advanced hearing technology but are missed out because of low awareness around hearing issues in babies.
Around 5% of the world population (430 million people) suffers from disabling hearing loss. Further, one-third of people above 65 years of age affected by hearing loss.
Nearly 2.5 billion people (1 in 4 people) will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. At least 700 million of these people will require access to ear and hearing care and other rehabilitation services unless governments start preventive actions.
Over 27,000 children are born deaf every year in India. This is because hearing impairment or loss is often neglected or in most cases, the diagnosis is delayed.
Disabling hearing loss has affected 2.9% of the Indian population. Further, hearing loss will affect communication, education and work-related problems for them.
According to a 2018 WHO report, 2% of India’s population, mainly children, suffer from the condition of Otitis Media.
The World Report on Hearing mentions the acronym “H.E.A.R.I.N.G.”. Stands for:
The report suggested governments can provide access to quality ear and hearing care to everyone through this “H.E.A.R.I.N.G.” initiative.
The Integration of Hearing Care into Primary Healthcare will close the present patient-doctor gap.
Clinical Screening at Strategic Points in Life to ensure early identification of any loss of hearing and ear diseases.
Promoting Hearing Assistive Technology and Services includes measures such as captioning and sign language interpretation which can further improve access to communication and education for those with hearing loss.
In children, almost 60% of hearing loss can be prevented through measures such as immunisation for prevention of rubella and meningitis, improved maternal and neonatal care, and screening for, and early management of, otitis media – inflammatory diseases of the middle ear.
In adults, noise control, safe listening and surveillance of ototoxic (having a toxic effect on the ear) medicines together with good ear hygiene can help maintain good hearing and reduce the potential for hearing loss.