Prevention of deafness and hearing impairment

Activities at the World Health Organization for prevention of deafness and hearing impairment assist Member States in reducing and eventually eliminating avoidable hearing impairment and disability through appropriate preventive and rehabilitative measures.

Its strategic target is to eliminate 50% of the burden of avoidable hearing loss by the year 2010.
WHO and WWHearing embark on new collaboration to provide affordable hearing aids

18 October 2006 - WHO and WWHearing (World Wide Hearing Care for Developing Countries) agreed to work together to encourage and enable provision of affordable hearing aids and services on a massive scale, especially in developing countries and underserved communities.

AREAS OF WORK: Primary ear and hearing care A training resource aimed at reducing deafness and hearing problems in developing countries. Epidemiology and economic analysis Promoting surveys and gathering data for measuring the burden of deafness and hearing impairment. Strategies for prevention Developing strategies for prevention: currently addressing ototoxic drugs, chronic otitis media, excessive noise, provision of affordable hearing aids. National programmes Assisting countries to develop national programmes for prevention of deafness and hearing impairment. Raising awareness Raising awareness, knowledge and skill amongst primary health care and other health workers.