The World Health Organization Estimates 2.5 Billion with Hearing Loss by 2050

Hearing loss is on the rise. Despite extensive research and efforts at discovering a lasting cure for hearing loss, the most common forms remain permanent, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has released new projections for how many people will experience some form of hearing damage. An estimated 2.5 billion people will be living with hearing loss across the globe by the year 2050, and they estimate that at least 700 million of them will require some kind of rehabilitative services. 

In addition to the staggering number of people affected by hearing loss, economies are suffering, as well. The WHO estimates that an annual 1 trillion dollars are lost due to untreated hearing loss and the associated social costs. With these new statistics in mind, it is important to think about why so many people live with untreated hearing loss and why those people are incurring such astronomical costs. Let’s unpack these numbers with some details.

Why will so many people have hearing loss?

The rising numbers of people with hearing loss is, of course, partly due to population growth around the world. And yet, we also know that many demographics of people are experiencing higher rates of hearing loss than ever. Young people are demonstrating loss earlier in life than the cohorts that preceded them. What might motivate this change? Recreational and leisure noise, facilitated by cheap and easy audio technology, have brought lasting damage on hearing, perhaps in ways we do not yet understand. When hearing loss occurs at a younger age, a chain reaction of negative health and social effects can occur. Some of the dangerous forms of technology that make hearing loss so common include earbuds, other types of headphones, and cheaply available Bluetooth speakers that are used around the world to blast music at dangerous volumes. 

Why is so much hearing loss untreated?

Each person you ask why they have delayed getting treatment for hearing loss will tell you a unique story. Some of the common themes include lack of access in many parts of the world, the belief that hearing aids won’t really make a difference, and other forms of psychological resistance to diagnosis. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that those with untreated hearing loss have much higher rates of several health problems, ranging from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to mental health struggles and even dementia. With such consequences in mind, it is remarkable that so many people continue to put off or resist getting treatment, particularly those who have the resources and availability. 

Why is untreated hearing loss so costly? 

At first glance it might seem like the individuals who resist getting treatment would bear the cost of their decisions. Unfortunately, social systems take on many of the costs of untreated hearing loss, as well. Workplace productivity suffers when workers are making do with insufficient hearing ability, and these costs can range from mistaken tasks all the way to accidents on the job. The health care system also carries much of the economic burden of untreated hearing loss. Those who have not received treatment are more likely to experience accidental injuries and falls, and they also have higher rates of return visits to the hospital, leading many to believe that poor communication contributed to poor diagnostic care. 

When you add to this matrix the higher likelihood that a person with hearing loss will develop dementia, you can see why the social cost of this condition is so high. Not only do anonymous systems take on this economic responsibility, but also the families and loved ones who care for them can feel the financial weight of unpaid caregiving. 

If you or someone you love has untreated hearing loss, the time is now to seek assistance. These skyrocketing numbers and new information about the economic burden should be an even greater reason to take the condition seriously. Rather than putting off getting a hearing test, why not make your appointment today. A full diagnosis is easy, quick, and painless, and you will walk away with the knowledge of the kind of treatment you need, if assistance is necessary for you or your loved one.