Hearing Screening Considerations For Implementation

In 2011, heads of state and government at the United Nations General Assembly formally acknowledged that NCDs are one of the major challenges to development and committed to integrate NCD prevention and control into other programmes, such as for HIV and broader maternal and child health programmes, especially in PHC. The commitment to integrate NCDs into existing disease programmes was reaffirmed again through its NCD resolutions at its Third High-level Meeting in 2018. This guidance outlines strategic actions and practical solutions in response to the challenges of integration of NCDs, as appropriate and relevant to the country context. The objective is to maximize the impact of health services and extend access to NCD care. The target readership is policymakers, programme managers and health providers. The guidance should also be useful for WHO and international partners (including donors and banks) that champion integrated support for NCD service delivery in countries and better management.

This book is an original scholarly book that introduces the concept of preventive audiology, with a specific focus on the African context, which is in line with the South African re-engineered primary healthcare strategy as well as the World Health Organisation’s approach. The book reflects on contextually relevant and responsive evidence-based perspectives, grounded in an African context on preventive audiology, in four major ear and hearing burdens of disease within the South African context: (1) early hearing detection and intervention, (2) middle ear pathologies, (3) ototoxicity, and (4) noise-induced hearing loss. The book represents innovative research, seen from both a South African and global perspective. It offers new discourse and argues for a paradigm shift in how audiology is theorised and performed, particularly in low-and-middle-income country contexts. The goal of this book is to motivate a paradigm shift in how the ear and hearing care is approached within this low-and-middle-income country context while arguing for Afrocentric best practice evidence that leads to next practice.

It is estimated that while more than 400 million people worldwide could benefit from hearing aid use alone, only 17% get to use these devices. This gap of 83% poses a substantial global challenge as unaddressed hearing loss is a leading cause of morbidity with an annual global cost of 980 billion international dollars. The WHO Hearing aid service delivery approaches for low- and middle-income settings is intended for use by people who plan to implement a national or subnational community level programme for the delivery of hearing aid services. It provides guidance on important factors to be considered when developing a community-level programme for the delivery of hearing aid services in low- and middle-income settings through trained non-specialists. This document targets 2 population groups: - children aged older than 5 years; and, - adults aged 18 years and older. The approaches provide directions on who should be fitted with a hearing aid; the process of assessment; the tools to be used; and the protocol for follow-up. Target audience - ear and hearing care coordinators or focal points within ministries of health. - public health planners. - nongovernmental organizations or civil society entities that provide ear and hearing care.

WHO has progressively strengthened its work for adolescent health, growing its portfolio of research, norms and standards, country support and advocacy, and expanding the scope of work across over 17 departments, regional and country offices to address the multifaceted needs of the global adolescent population. Central to a coordinated approach to adolescent health across the organization is the HQ Interdepartmental Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Well-being. In 2021, the group produced the first report on its work on adolescent health and well-being, celebrating efforts across many areas of work and all levels of the organization. This is the second in the series of biennial reports that comes on the wake of the Global Forum for Adolescents 2023 and is powered by its 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign. The report describes WHO’s efforts to elevate adolescent health and well-being through collaboration and by coordinating new initiatives, addressing emerging needs and establishing ambitious objectives with its development partners and adolescents. Target audience: this WHO serial publication is designed to be used by policy-makers, media and donors.