A Global Look at Hearing Loss in December

Roughly more than 5 percent of the world’s population, or about 360 million individuals, have incapacitating hearing loss. If left untreated, hearing loss can bring about many hurdles, infiltrating many aspects of their daily lives. Not just their health can be affected, but also their socio-economic status.

We are global citizens, so we have an obligation to help people with hearing loss and other disabilities to get the right treatment, as well as to eradicate obstacles that can impede their ability to be contributing members of society. To do so is the intention behind the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This day takes place on December 3 of each year. This event targets promoting the rights and well-being of people with disabilities in all sectors of development and society. The effort is to increase visibility of the total number of the challenges people with hearing loss and other disabilities face.

Combating barriers and creating a path to better hearing

One theme of the IDPD is to simply not let anyone behind because of their disabilities or substantially create a  “transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all.” While leaving no one behind is inherently good, we must also bolster the ability of society to be flexible, so as to more positively account for individuals with disabilities. So, let’s look at six things that can be done about at least one disability; that is, hearing loss.

Although these are actions intended for the struggling European Union, they can also be applied the world over, including the United States:

• Raise visibility of hearing loss as a cause for depression, deteriorating physical and mental health, and social isolation
• Improve the pathway of information to people with hearing loss regarding audiovisual media services and public facilities
• Invest in research on hearing loss, prevention, and rehabilitation
• Share ideal practices on preventative measures and early screening programs to diagnose and identify hearing loss
• Promote access to hearing aids
• Increase access to professional hearing care, including rehabilitation, maintenance, service, and diagnosis.

Giving a helping hand to those with hearing loss

Hearing loss continues to grow as a problem around the world. Rights and opportunities for people afflicted with it are just as important as anyone else’s. In thinking about IDPD, decide what you can do to help get the support and treatment needed for someone with hearing loss. A good start would be to contact a hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for yourself or someone else.

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