Montreal — Recent United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) estimates indicate that there are 642 million people suffer from hearing loss in the world today and that most of these live in developing nations.
Of the 642 million estimated to have hearing loss, 208 million are estimated to have moderate to severe hearing loss, and 70% live in developing countries. As a result of the current lack of hearing health care in these countries, only one out of 40 people with hearing loss will ever have the opportunity to wear a hearing aid.
World Wide Hearing, an international non-profit organization founded in 2006, is working with WHO. The organization reports that children with hearing loss who do not have access to a hearing aid will experience a profound negative effect on their expected quality of life, their relationships with their families and peers, and access to education and employment. These factors for individuals can also affect their society, as well.
Claudio Bussandri, chairman of World Wide Hearing, said in a press statement, "The problem is enormous. World Wide Hearing is working on a major breakthrough in the way hearing aids are fitted and delivered to the world’s poor and underserved communities. We are on the right track to change the world of hearing."
The organization is now in its advanced trial phase of an alternative hearing health service model called Hearing Express, which is designed to administer quality hearing health services to large volumes of individuals. These services include affordable and rapid screening, diagnostics, and hearing aid services.
SOURCE: World Wide Hearing International
