There are more than 360 million people currently living with disabling hearing loss worldwide; nearly 32 million of those are children1
1 in 3 people over 65 years old are affected by hearing loss. Left untreated, hearing loss can contribute to social isolation, anxiety, depression and cognitive decline1
According to WHO over 1 billion young people (aged between 12–35 years) are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings2
1 in 5 people with hearing loss would benefit from a hearing aid or cochlear implant2
Research shows that children with hearing loss are more likely to benefit from a hearing implant if it is received at a young age, before they learn to speak3
WHO estimates that unaddressed hearing loss costs $750 billion globally every year. People who have hearing loss can benefit from early identification and appropriate interventions5
1. World Health Organization (WHO). Childhood Hearing Loss: Act Now, Here is How! Brochure (2016). http://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/world-hearing-day/WHD2016_Brochure_EN_2.pdf?ua=1. Accessed February 2017
2. World Health Organization (WHO). 10 facts http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/deafness/facts/en/on deafness (2015). Accessed February 2017
3. Valencia D M et al. Cochlear implantation in infants less than 12 months of age. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Jun; 72(6):767-73.
4. The World Bank. What is an “international dollar”? Available at: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/114944-what-is-an-international-dollar Last accessed February 2017
5. World Health Organization (WHO). Deafness and hearing loss factsheet. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/ Last accessed February 2017