Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability
We are responsible for leading, coordinating and monitoring global action to cover additional people with health services, medicines, vaccines, diagnostic and health technologies for the prevention, screening, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. We aim to advance health equity for persons with disabilities, we have a focus on sensory impairments and bring together the work on rehabilitation from across the departments and from the 3 levels of the organization.
About us

Hearing loss and the role of health care providers

Deafness and hearing loss are widespread and found in every region and country. Currently more than 1.5 billion people (nearly 20% of the global population) live with hearing loss; 430 million of them have disabling hearing loss. It is expected that by 2050, there could be over 700 million people with disabling hearing loss.

Most of the common causes of ear diseases and hearing loss, for example ear infections or loud sounds and noise, can be prevented. Timely treatment and rehabilitation can benefit all people with ear diseases and hearing loss. Health workers, general practitioners, family doctors, and doctors working at primary level are often the first point of contact for people to receive health care services.

Many common ear and hearing problems can be diagnosed and managed by people in these professions. In addition, health workers can do a lot to support people with hearing loss and change the way the community perceives these problems by raising awareness.

 

 

Hearing loss and the role of health care providers

The fact sheet aims to provide information about ear and hearing care to health workers and suggestions of what health care providers could do to promote and support ear and hearing care access for all.

The fact sheet mentions some of the materials developed by WHO that can provide more information about different ear and hearing care initiatives. See below the links to access the documents.