ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the high burden imposed on individuals and their communities by disabling hearing loss. Global public health reports indicate that hearing loss is now one of the most common causes of years lived with disability. With this recognition has come calls for increased priority to be given to ear and hearing health care initiatives. Such initiatives are particularly necessary for low- and medium-income countries, where human and infrastructure resources in this field are often very limited. The present chapter outlines the magnitude of the challenge to provide access to ear and hearing health care for all and describes the broad strategic approaches now being undertaken by the World Health Organization to meet this challenge. Case studies of local intervention projects across three continents—Africa, Asia, and North America—are given and the ways in which they are aligned with WHO recommended approaches are highlighted. The importance of global and local agency communication and collaboration is emphasized and the mechanisms by which this takes place are noted. Recent ear and hearing health care initiatives in low- and medium-income countries are expanding in their scope and size, and this previously under-appreciated public health issue is now gaining more widespread attention.
