Prioritizing hearing aid service delivery models for low-income communities

Abstract

Millions of individuals worldwide are affected by hearing loss, with a global estimate of 2.5 billion projected by 2050. Hearing loss has a profound effect on individuals’ overall quality of life, including communication, social interactions, education, and employment. However, hearing aid uptake is generally low. In Africa, less than 10% of individuals needing hearing aids acquire them, with some estimates as low as 3%. The global burden of hearing loss is exacerbated by the limited number of hearing health care services and the lack of trained professionals. The global shortage of hearing health care professionals, particularly in low- and middle-income settings, is a major challenge to existing service delivery models, which require specialist health care providers. Generally, low- and lower-middle-income regions have one or fewer ENT specialists or audiologists per million population. In Africa, 56% and 78% of countries have less than one ENT specialist or audiologist per million population, respectively.