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An overview of World Health Organization guidance aiming to increase global access to critical hearing aid services

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Equitable access to hearing aids and related services remains a global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. A major barrier to access is the lack of diagnostic and rehabilitative services, which is substantially attributable to the persistent shortage of ear and hearing care specialists. This discussion article provides an overview of limitations in the ear and hearing care workforce, the relevance of task sharing to ear and hearing care, and a new, evidence-based World Health Organization (WHO) technical resource aimed at improving access to hearing aids worldwide. DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE: A synthesis of current research and expert opinion. RESULTS: First, this article describes the global shortage of qualified ear and hearing care specialists. Next, it describes how community-based care, supported by task sharing among trained non-specialist providers and qualified ear and hearing care providers, could overcome these workforce limitations, and describes the critical role of qualified ear and hearing care providers in task sharing. Finally, this article provides an overview of a WHO resource which provides practical information for hearing aid service provision in resource-limited settings. CONCLUSION: Innovative strategies to expand the ear and hearing care workforce are essential to advance efforts towards equitable access to hearing aids and related services.
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2492151
Authors: Lauren K. Dillard, Carolina Der, Ariane Laplante-Lévesque, De Wet Swanepoel, Peter R. Thorne, Bradley McPherson, Victor de Andrade, John Newall, Hubert D. Ramos, Annette Kaspar, Carrie L. Nieman, Jackie L. Clark, Shelly Chadha
Institutions: Medical University of South Carolina, World Health Organization, Linköping University, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Pretoria, University of Colorado Denver, University of Auckland, The University of Queensland, University of the Witwatersrand, Macquarie University, University of Santo Tomas, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, The University of Texas at Dallas
Language: English
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409765327
FWCI: 4.447
Cites: 36
Cited by: 8
Related to: 10