According to WHO, around 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss and 34 million of these are children. Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of US$ 750 billion. Interventions to identify and address hearing loss are cost-effective and can bring great benefit to patients and the whole society.
On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day (10 October 2018), Health First Europe launches the video campaign #TogetherToHear to raise awareness on the burden of untreated hearing loss across Europe and its impact on social exclusion. Hearing loss and ear diseases have significant social and emotional effects. Exclusion from communication can impact on everyday life, causing feelings of loneliness, isolation, and frustration.
Early detection and intervention are crucial to tackle the adverse effects of hearing loss on a child’s development, educational achievements and social participation. Unaddressed hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline (people with mild hearing loss have nearly twice the chance of developing dementia as people without any hearing loss) and depression, due to the lack of social interaction and engagement in society. The Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders revealed that more than 11% of those with hearing loss also had depression, compared to 5% in the general population.
Hear the voice of your European representatives advocating to foster inclusion through innovative hearing care. MEP Renate Sommer, Anne-Sophie Parent (Secretary General at AGE Platform) – Shelly Chadha (WHO programme for prevention of deafness and hearing loss) and Teresa Amat (President EURO-CIU) join their voices to raise awareness on hearing loss impact and the role of innovative technologies in better managing this condition.
Watch the video campaign #TogetherToHear
