Basic ear and hearing care resource

In many places there is a lack of services and trained workers to prevent and treat ear diseases and help people with hearing loss. People themselves are not well aware about the importance of hearing. There are many myths and misconceptions about ear diseases and hearing loss in the society.

The resource focuses on community involvement and raising awareness; and will provide useful information for preventing and addressing ear diseases and hearing loss.

The purpose of this basic ear and hearing care resource is to serve as an information resource for community level workers as well as other interested members of the community. This resource can help the community to understand common ear diseases and hearing loss. Members of the community can share information with families/people who may have hearing loss. This resource will enable people to know about the impact of unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases. It will help the community members to suspect and deal with common ear and hearing problems. It will also educate them about possible options for diagnosing and managing these conditions. This resource focusses on means for prevention and recognition of common ear disease and hearing loss. It also shows that, with understanding and the necessary support, people with hearing loss can play productive roles in the household, school or in the work places.

Background

World Health Organization estimates that there are over 460 million people in the world with disabling hearing loss. Nearly 90% of them live in low- and middle-income countries of the world. Many more people have mild hearing loss and suffer diseases of the ear. These problems can often cause life-long and sometimes life-threatening difficulties. Without suitable interventions, deaf or hard of hearing people find it difficult to communicate with others. They also have difficulty in education and in the workplace, and often they feel left out of social and family life.

In many places there is a lack of services and trained workers to prevent and treat ear diseases and help people with hearing loss. People themselves are not well aware about the importance of hearing. There are many myths and misconceptions about ear diseases and hearing loss in the society.

The resource focuses on community involvement and raising awareness; and will provide useful information for preventing and addressing ear diseases and hearing loss.

Purpose of this resource

The purpose of this basic ear and hearing care resource is to serve as an information resource for community level workers as well as other interested members of the community. This resource can help the community to understand common ear diseases and hearing loss. Members of the community can share information with families/people who may have hearing loss. This resource will enable people to know about the impact of unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases. It will help the community members to suspect and deal with common ear and hearing problems. It will also educate them about possible options for diagnosing and managing these conditions. This resource focusses on means for prevention and recognition of common ear disease and hearing loss. It also shows that, with understanding and the necessary support, people with hearing loss can play productive roles in the household, school or in the work places.

The target groups for this resource includes:
• Community level workers without formal training who are involved in provision of care and information to young children, older adults; people in noise workplaces
• CBR (community-based rehabilitation) workers;
• Parents, teachers and other members of the community that wish to know about ear and hearing care.