By 2050, One in Four People Will Suffer from Hearing Problems

The World Health Organization has warned that by 2050, one in four people in the world's population will suffer from hearing problems. The first global report on hearing capacity states that many of these problems are occurring due to causes such as infections, diseases, birth defects, noise, and negative changes in lifestyle.

A package of measures was proposed in the report, calculated at $1.33 per person per year. The report estimated an annual loss of nearly one trillion US dollars due to this problem because the issue was not being properly addressed.

Globally, one in every five people currently has a hearing problem. But the report warns that over the next three decades, the number of people with hearing loss could increase by more than 1.5 times. Most of this expected increase is due to demographic and population trends.

Since nearly 80 percent of people with hearing loss live in extremely poor countries, most do not receive adequate medical help. The report states that even in wealthy countries with better facilities, access to care is often unequal. "Even among healthcare providers, there is typically a lack of knowledge relevant to prevention, early identification, and management of hearing loss and ear diseases," it noted.

The report proposes a package of measures, including public health initiatives ranging from noise reduction in public spaces to expanding vaccination for diseases such as meningitis that can cause hearing loss. It also recommended systematic screening to identify the problem at key stages in people's lives.