WHO calls for action to stem rise in hearing loss

GENEVA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday called for interventions from governments and their partners to reduce hearing loss and its adverse impacts, as the population to suffer from disabling hearing is estimated to reach 900 million globally by 2050.

The figures was released by WHO on the occasion of World Hearing Day on Saturday, based on the current 466 million people worldwide who suffer from disabling hearing loss, 34 million of whom are children. This is up from 360 million people five years ago.

The main reasons for this increase is a growing aging population and the persistence of risks such as ear and vaccine-preventable infections like measles, mumps and rubella; the use of medicines that can harm hearing such as those used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria; and exposure to loud sounds through personal audio devices and in entertainment venues and workplaces.

"Past trends and future projections predict a vast increase in the number of people with hearing loss," says Dr. Etienne Krug, director of the WHO Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention.

"Unless appropriate action is initiated, nearly one in 10 people could have disabling hearing loss by 2050. This will considerably affect their lives and pose a significant cost to health systems," he said, urging governments to act now to prevent this rise and ensure people with hearing loss can access the services and technologies they need.

Despite the large numbers, the WHO said half of all cases of hearing loss can be prevented, especially in children where this figure is around 60 percent.

The WHO recommends immunizing children against infectious diseases; screening and treating children who suffer from chronic ear infections and promoting safe childbirth to minimize the risk of asphyxia and neonatal infections associated with hearing loss, among other measures. Enditem