Abstract Details
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10/10/2015 |
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
| Andrew Foster Auditorium
Why is more evidence needed globally on the burden of hearing loss and how can we get it?
The WHO global estimate of people with disabling hearing loss has tripled from 120 million in 1995 to over 360 million today. This number would be 554 million if the threshold reduction for disabling hearing loss proposed by the 2010 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Hearing Group were accepted by WHO. The WHO GBD 2004 update ranked adult onset hearing loss 3rd amongst all health conditions making up total Years Lived with Disability (YLD), and 13th for Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), of which YLD are a component. However the 2010 GBD project downgraded hearing loss YLD ranking to 13th because of a change in the methodology of assessing disability weights. With the former ranking, interventions against chronic otitis media and hearing loss were extremely cost effective; with the new rankings they would be much less so.
Estimates like these depend on accurate source data, yet the most recent WHO figures for hearing loss were based on less than 50 population-based surveys, since the almost 3000 others assessed were methodologically unsatisfactory. Figures for other conditions of this magnitude are based on far more surveys.
Accurate data is essential to WHO and Governments for estimating global, regional and national prevalences, calculating YLD, DALYs, and cost-effectiveness, for planning programmes and prioritising interventions, and for resource allocation.
This presentation looks at these issues in more detail on Why are the data on hearing loss so scarce? Key challenges include limited population based surveys and lack of funds. Survey tools and methodologies are essential for faster, cheaper and accurate estimates. Better data would be central to strengthening the approach in service provision and advocacy for long term impact in preventing and managing Hearing Impairment.
- Why is accurate epidemiological data needed on hearing loss?
- Why is it so difficult to get such data?
- What innovations could improve the situation?
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Andrew Smith (Primary Presenter,Author), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, andrew.smith@lshtm.ac.uk;
I am an Honorary Professor at the International Centre on Evidence for Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine since 2008.
My interest is studying, promoting and teaching public health approaches to prevention and rehabilitation of hearing loss in low and middle income countries, and in disadvantaged communities in high-income countries.
Since 2009, I and a colleague have developed and run 5-day courses on Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment. Up till now, we have trained 946 health workers from 43 countries in 26 courses at 12 centres mainly in low and middle income countries.
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Daksha Patel (Author), London school of hygiene and tropical medicine, Daksha.patel@lshtm.ac.uk;
Dr Daksha Patel is an Ophthalmologist by training and has worked in a range of clinical settings in East Africa. She joined LSHTM in 2002 as the Course Director for MSc in Public health for eye care. This unique course, is focused on addressing avoidable blindness in low and middle income settings. She remained as the Course Director till 2013 and has since taken on the role of E-learning Director for the Disability group at LSHTM, and is developing Open educational resources and Massive open Online courses (MOOCs) in eye care.
Daksha has a keen interest in health science education and public health. Since 2009, she has also been involved in co-course director for developing training for Public health planning for Hearing Impairment, which is directed to address and develop strategies for the prevention of hearing loss. Over 400 audiologists and ENT Surgeons have participated in this training across 5 training centres globally. The courses are designed to support the development of public health strategies at National and district level for hearing impairment. Daksha has also been involved in advocating with the Commonwealth Secretariat on hearing Impairment as a priority health agenda.
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Joanna Anderson (Co-Author), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, joanna.anderson@lshtm.ac.uk;
I am the administrator for Ear and Hearing Health activities at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. I manage a programme of short courses in Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment in various locations world wide. I manage the online discussion group for PHPHI course alumni 'Discussions in Ears and Public Health' and am Editorial Assistant for the Community Ear and Hearing Health Journal.
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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