Global burden of hearing impairment and ear disease

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundHearing loss can present at birth or be acquired as a result of illness, middle-ear disease, injury, age, overuse of certain medications, and/or induced by exposure to damaging noise levels. There are serious short-term consequences for people living with hearing impairment, including the effects on language acquisition, education, employment and overall wellbeing. There are also complex long-term implications.ObjectivesThis review aimed to present some of the leading causes of ear disease and hearing loss globally, and to identify their impact at both an individual and societal level.