WHO Warns 2.5 Billion Will Have Hearing Problems by 2050
2021-03-06
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1The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that 25 percent of the world's population, or 2.5 billion people, will have hearing problems by 2050.
2The warning came from the first-ever report on hearing from the United Nation's health agency.
3The report found that many of the causes of hearing loss are preventable.
4They include infections, disease, birth defects, too much noise and lifestyle choices.
5To fight hearing loss, the report suggests measures which, it says, could cost what is equal to $1.33 for every person each year.
6WHO director-general Tedros Adhonom Ghebreyesus said the cost of doing nothing is very high, an estimated $1 trillion.
7The U.N. researchers estimate that one in five people around the world already have hearing problems.
8But the report warned the number may increase to 2.5 billion people during the next 30 years.
9And 700 million would require some kind of treatment for hearing loss by 2050.
10The U.N. experts say in the report that many people with hearing loss cannot get care.
11This is especially a problem in poor countries where there are fewer health care professionals.
12Eighty percent of people with hearing loss live in poor countries.
13The report finds that, among those countries, 78 percent have fewer than one ear, nose and throat specialists for every million people.
14The numbers are similar for specialists who treat hearing, speech therapists and teachers for the deaf.
15The report adds that even in rich countries, the ability to get hearing treatment is uneven.
16It said there is a lack of good information and a stigma surrounding hearing problems that prevents people from getting treatment.
17"Even among health-care providers, knowledge relevant to prevention, early identification and management of hearing loss and ear disease is commonly lacking."
18The report proposes active measures for solving the problem.
19It recommends public health campaigns aimed at reducing loud noise.
20It also calls for increased vaccinations against diseases like meningitis which have been linked to hearing loss.
21Other recommendations include systematic examination of people to identify problems at different points in their lives.
22For example, the report notes that 60 percent of hearing problems in children could be prevented.
23Programs to identify possible problems that target new mothers and babies can help too.
24In addition, recent technological improvements, including easy-to-use tools, can identify ear disease and hearing loss at any age.
25It is now easier to carry out screening in difficult conditions like those found during the coronavirus health crisis and in "underserved" areas of the world.
26I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that 25 percent of the world's population, or 2.5 billion people, will have hearing problems by 2050. 2The warning came from the first-ever report on hearing from the United Nation's health agency. 3The report found that many of the causes of hearing loss are preventable. They include infections, disease, birth defects, too much noise and lifestyle choices. 4To fight hearing loss, the report suggests measures which, it says, could cost what is equal to $1.33 for every person each year. WHO director-general Tedros Adhonom Ghebreyesus said the cost of doing nothing is very high, an estimated $1 trillion. 5The U.N. researchers estimate that one in five people around the world already have hearing problems. But the report warned the number may increase to 2.5 billion people during the next 30 years. And 700 million would require some kind of treatment for hearing loss by 2050. 6Causes of hearing loss 7The U.N. experts say in the report that many people with hearing loss cannot get care. This is especially a problem in poor countries where there are fewer health care professionals. Eighty percent of people with hearing loss live in poor countries. 8The report finds that, among those countries, 78 percent have fewer than one ear, nose and throat specialists for every million people. The numbers are similar for specialists who treat hearing, speech therapists and teachers for the deaf. 9The report adds that even in rich countries, the ability to get hearing treatment is uneven. It said there is a lack of good information and a stigma surrounding hearing problems that prevents people from getting treatment. 10"Even among health-care providers, knowledge relevant to prevention, early identification and management of hearing loss and ear disease is commonly lacking." 11How to deal with hearing loss 12The report proposes active measures for solving the problem. It recommends public health campaigns aimed at reducing loud noise. It also calls for increased vaccinations against diseases like meningitis which have been linked to hearing loss. 13Other recommendations include systematic examination of people to identify problems at different points in their lives. For example, the report notes that 60 percent of hearing problems in children could be prevented. Programs to identify possible problems that target new mothers and babies can help too. 14In addition, recent technological improvements, including easy-to-use tools, can identify ear disease and hearing loss at any age. It is now easier to carry out screening in difficult conditions like those found during the coronavirus health crisis and in "underserved" areas of the world. 15I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 16Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this Agence France-Presse story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 17_______________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19deaf -adj. unable to hear 20stigma -n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs held by people about something 21relevant -adj. relating to a subject in a meaningful way 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.