New study outlines priorities for hearing loss prevention and estimates the global cause-specific burdens of hearing loss.

A recent study has found that a significant number of new cases of hearing loss could be avoided if the prevention of certain diseases and ototoxic medications was made a global health priority.

The pioneering study – funded by The US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the US National Institute on Aging – had a core aim to estimate the annual number of new hearing loss cases that could be attributed to meningitis, otitis media, congenital rubella syndrome, cytomegalovirus, and ototoxic medications, specifically aminoglycosides, platinum-based chemotherapeutics, and antimalarials.

Speaking of the importance of this study, BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge said: “We know that hearing loss affects around 1.6 billion people around the world and this number is predicted to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. There is a great deal of evidence around how many of these cases could be prevented, particularly with regards to noise-induced hearing loss.

“While there is a strong consensus that certain conditions also play a role in causing hearing loss, there is less research done in this space. Studies like this are crucial to pave the way for global change with regards to the way we approach hearing loss treatment and prevention.”

The study found that an estimated 257.3 million people per year are exposed to these preventable causes of hearing loss, leading to an estimated 33.8 million new cases of hearing loss worldwide per year.

Of the researched causes, the study discovered that the majority of identified cases of hearing loss were attributed to exposure to ototoxic medications – an enormous 19.6 million from short-course aminoglycoside therapy and 12.3 million from antimalarials. Through the study, it was also estimated that 818,000 cases of hearing loss were caused by otitis media, 346,000 by meningitis, 114,000 by cytomegalovirus, and 59,000 by congenital rubella syndrome.

Paul continued, “The findings from this study are fascinating and an important reminder that hearing loss can often be prevented. This brings with it a global responsibility to raise awareness and prevent the conditions that are evidently leading to hearing loss.

“Hearing loss has a substantial and life-changing impact on an individual’s physical and mental health, as well as impacting career opportunities, increasing the chances of social isolation and a person’s risk of life limiting illnesses such as dementia. We hope that this groundbreaking research will start to pave the way for further research into this subject area and a stronger focus both nationally and internationally on hearing loss as a global health issue,” said Paul Surridge.

To read more about the study and access the full article, visit The Lancet Global Health.