Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss Globally

• Unaddressed hearing loss is the third largest cause of years lived with disability worldwide.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 400 million people, including 34 million children, live with disabling hearing loss—affecting 1 in 3 people over the age of 65.
• More than 15 million individuals could benefit from a cochlear or bone conduction implant.
• Less than 5% of those who may benefit from a hearing device have received one.

Implications of Hearing Loss

Communication and Speech

• In both children and adults, hearing loss can impact speech quality. If left untreated, speech may become muffled and unclear.

Cognitive Development

• In children, hearing loss can lead to delayed language and cognitive development, which can be prevented with early intervention.
• In older adults, unaddressed hearing loss is linked to mental and physical decline, including higher rates of age-related dementia.

Education and Employment

• Hearing loss can have long-term effects on academic performance. If not addressed in time, affected individuals may experience:
  • Reduced school performance.
  • Slower progression through the academic system.
  • Increased risk of dropping out.
  • Lower likelihood of pursuing higher education.

Social Isolation and Mental Health

• Hearing loss can lead to a lack of social engagement and loneliness, particularly in older adults, contributing to cognitive decline and depression.
• Across all age groups, individuals with hearing loss experience higher rates of depression and report lower quality of life compared to their hearing peers.

Addressing Hearing Loss

Early Identification

• Early detection is crucial for effective management. Technological advancements provide tools to identify hearing loss at any age.
• Screening programs should target:
  • Newborns and infants.
  • School-age children.

Hearing Assessment and Diagnosis

• Hearing assessments and ear examinations can be conducted in clinical, community, and field settings.
• Tools such as "Hear WHO" and other technology-based solutions enable hearing screenings even in resource-limited areas with minimal training.

Rehabilitation and Support

• Once identified, hearing loss should be addressed as early as possible to minimize its impact. A person-centered approach should be adopted, considering the individual's communication needs and available resources.
• Rehabilitation options include:
  • Hearing technology: Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and middle ear implants.
  • Sensory substitution: Sign language, speech reading, and other alternative communication methods.
  • Hearing assistive technology: Frequency modulation and loop systems, alerting devices, telecommunication aids, captioning services, and sign language interpretation.

Newborn Hearing Screening in Egypt (NBS Program)

Objectives of the NBS Presidential Initiative

• Early detection of hearing impairment in newborns.
• Early intervention to provide treatment options, reducing the need for late implantation and preventing speech acquisition and integration difficulties.

Target Audience

• The program targets all newborns in Egypt, including foreigners, screening approximately 2 to 2.5 million newborns per year.

Program Achievements

• Health insurance has provided:
  • Over 10,000 cochlear implants for children under the age of five.
  • More than 200,000 hearing aids.
• El Nahar is one of the key suppliers supporting the health insurance program in this initiative.