Friday 3 March is World Hearing Day. The theme for World Hearing Day 2017 is “Action for hearing loss: make a sound investment”. It aims to draw attention to the economic impact of hearing loss. Unaddressed hearing loss poses a high cost for the global economy and has a significant impact on the lives of those affected. However, cost-effective interventions to address hearing loss are available.
Prevention, screening for early identification, rehabilitation through hearing devices, captioning and sign language education are among the strategies which can mitigate hearing loss and its consequences. World Hearing Day 2017 highlights actions which decision-makers can do to address hearing loss.
The need for action on hearing loss
The annual cost of hearing loss globally is $750 billion.
Loss of productivity, due to unemployment and premature retirement as a result of hearing loss, leads to an annual global cost of $105 billion.
Social isolation, communication difficulties and stigma because of hearing loss lead to an annual global cost of $573 billion.
Action is cost-effective
Evidence shows that it is cost effective to:
- Prevent hearing loss by:
- Protecting against loud sounds
- Identifying and treating ear infections
- Identify hearing loss early through screening of:
- Newborns
- School children
- Adults above 50 years
- Provide rehabilitation together with support for continuous use of hearing aids
- Improve access to cochlear implants
Captioning and sign language interpretation are effective in making information accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.
Action benefits society and countries
Interventions to address hearing loss result in:
- Financial savings and significant return on investment
- Increased access to education
- Greater employability and earnings which benefits the economy
- Lower costs related to depression and cognitive decline
- An integrated society
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