Affordable Hearing Aids - WHO and WWHearing cooperate
CBM conducts two pilot studies modeling for other developing countries
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- Hearing impairment is a hidden disability. Without appropriate intervention it can reduce a person’s quality of life significantly. Hearing loss can impact on a child’s development by causing delays in language acquisition and impeding school progress. Later in adult life it can cause vocational and economic difficulties. And for the elderly it can lead to increased social isolation. Therefore, WHO and WWHearing aim to make hearing aids accessible to children and adults in developing countries. © CBM
On 18 October 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) and WWHearing (World Wide Hearing Care for Developing Countries) agreed to work together to enable provision of affordable hearing aids and services on a large scale, especially in low income countries and underserved communities. CBM contributes technical and financial support to WWHearing, to improve access of children and adults with hearing impairment to services.
According to the WHO, "278 million people in the world are affected by moderate bilateral hearing loss or worse. Two-thirds of these people are in low income countries and many would benefit from hearing aids. More than 30 million hearing aids are needed annually in low income countries, together with services and staff to fit them, but current annual provision is less than 1 million."
According to the WHO, "278 million people in the world are affected by moderate bilateral hearing loss or worse. Two-thirds of these people are in low income countries and many would benefit from hearing aids. More than 30 million hearing aids are needed annually in low income countries, together with services and staff to fit them, but current annual provision is less than 1 million."
Affordable hearing aids for developing countries
The goal of WWHearing, which has been registered as a not for profit association in July this year, is to improve access to appropriate and affordable hearing aids and services, for children and adults living in low income countries and other marginalized communities, and the development of infrastructure and services as integral parts of the national health care systems, through the promotion and implementation of the WHO Guidelines for Hearing Aids and Services for Developing Countries. WWHearing aims to reach its goal by supporting the development of low cost hearing aids through model programmes, and by building alliances with organizations, institutions, professionals, and the business sector.
CBM supports WWHearing with approximately 200,000 Euro in 2006/7 for the provision of the global initiative, hearing aids and training. Two pilot projects have been started this year in China and India, with the aim to evaluate how best to examine and provide hearing aids for adults and children. Further projects are planned in Latin America and Africa.
CBM supports WWHearing with approximately 200,000 Euro in 2006/7 for the provision of the global initiative, hearing aids and training. Two pilot projects have been started this year in China and India, with the aim to evaluate how best to examine and provide hearing aids for adults and children. Further projects are planned in Latin America and Africa.
CBM-supported pilot projects for WWHearing
China
CBM supports a pilot project in China since 2006. The data is being collected in Guangxi province and Beijing city, where CBM’s partner, the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) provides ear care and hearing aid fitting services and leadership and training through a network of similar centres throughout China. Results from the project assessment and evaluation will provide essential information to WWHearing for further projects for the provision of affordable hearing aids in other parts of China with a similar socio-economic status.
CBM’s partner, the China Disabled Persons Federation, has been in long-term collaboration with the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment. The programme is supported by CBM with more than 100,000 Euro, which comprises:
CBM supports a pilot project in China since 2006. The data is being collected in Guangxi province and Beijing city, where CBM’s partner, the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) provides ear care and hearing aid fitting services and leadership and training through a network of similar centres throughout China. Results from the project assessment and evaluation will provide essential information to WWHearing for further projects for the provision of affordable hearing aids in other parts of China with a similar socio-economic status.
CBM’s partner, the China Disabled Persons Federation, has been in long-term collaboration with the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment. The programme is supported by CBM with more than 100,000 Euro, which comprises:
- training of teachers for the deaf in the fitting of hearing aids
- the development of training materials
- screening and data collection
- fitting of behind the ear digitally programmable hearing aids for 300 children in Guangxi and 100 in Beijing, aged 4-7 years
- the development of assessment and fitting procedures
- procurement of equipment and hearing aids
- evaluation of the project
India
In the state of Tamil Nadu, the health economist Dr. Rob Baltussen (Institute for Medical Technology Assessment/Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam/Netherlands) conducts an economic analysis, which is supported by CBM. The data Dr. Baltussen gathers will be used to determine how much the provision of hearing aids will cost state and country-wide. Dr. Baltussen has contributed substantial work to the WHO CHOICE Initiative, which developed tools and methods for cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to assess health interventions in terms of the best value for money.
The study is based in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, in a CBM-supported project focussing on deafness prevention and rehabilitation. Staff of CBM’s partner, the Ear Nose and Throat Department of the Christian Medical College Hospital, fits hearing aids to marginalised hearing impaired adults in the Vellore district, and at the same time collects essential information about clinical results and outcome for project development for WWHearing.
In the state of Tamil Nadu, the health economist Dr. Rob Baltussen (Institute for Medical Technology Assessment/Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam/Netherlands) conducts an economic analysis, which is supported by CBM. The data Dr. Baltussen gathers will be used to determine how much the provision of hearing aids will cost state and country-wide. Dr. Baltussen has contributed substantial work to the WHO CHOICE Initiative, which developed tools and methods for cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to assess health interventions in terms of the best value for money.
The study is based in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, in a CBM-supported project focussing on deafness prevention and rehabilitation. Staff of CBM’s partner, the Ear Nose and Throat Department of the Christian Medical College Hospital, fits hearing aids to marginalised hearing impaired adults in the Vellore district, and at the same time collects essential information about clinical results and outcome for project development for WWHearing.
Sound Hearing 2030 Campaign in South East Asia
CBM is also providing financial support for the "Sound Hearing 2030" campaign in South East Asia for the provision of hearing aids, primary ear care and prevention of deafness. This regional initiative was founded in October 2005 in Bangkok, by WHO-South East Asia Regional Office, CBM, Handicap International and Impact, professional organizations and country representatives. The aim is to reduce avoidable hearing impairment in South East Asia to 50% by 2015 and 90% by 2030, addressing 75 to 100 million people with disabling hearing impairment.
Read more: WWHearing
CBM-WHO-Cooperation: Primary Ear and Hearing Health Care Manual (March 2006)
Further information: WHO Guidelines on Hearing Impairment
WHO Website Prevention of deafness and hearing impairment
Go back: News
Read more: WWHearing
CBM-WHO-Cooperation: Primary Ear and Hearing Health Care Manual (March 2006)
Further information: WHO Guidelines on Hearing Impairment
WHO Website Prevention of deafness and hearing impairment
Go back: News
