Global costs of unaddressed hearing loss and cost-effectiveness of interventions

Overview

Millions of people across the world continue to live with the adverse impacts of unaddressed hearing loss and lack access to required ear and hearing care services. While the impact of hearing loss on individuals and families is well established, there have been relatively few attempts to assess at its economic costs, especially in low- and middle-income countries and at the global level.

This report provides an analysis of the global costs of hearing loss. It sets out different components of cost and, where feasible, attaches monetary values to such elements as direct market-price costs typically incurred by health-care systems for hearing loss, as well as costs that fall beyond the health system, e.g. for special educational support for hearing-impaired children. The report also highlights other aspects of cost, including the adverse impacts of hearing loss on the potential for individuals to contribute to the economy through participation in paid work. Finally, the analysis considers some of the broader societal impacts of hearing loss and the way in which they can be incorporated into estimates of global cost.

The report also reviews evidence on the cost–effectiveness of interventions to address hearing loss and presents the main findings.