Severe hearing loss as a disability: How to ensure equal access to optimal treatment

Abstract

With 25% of people experiencing disabling hearing loss by the age of 70, Europe cannot afford to ignore what this would mean for its aging population. Untreated hearing loss could result in an annual cost of 213 billion euros to Europe's economies. In addition to depriving an individual of a sense, hearing loss adversely affects the mental health, cognitive functioning, mortality, and employment of an individual, while also being linked with comorbidities such as stroke, diabetes, and dementia. Although cochlear implants (CIs) are recognized as cost-effective solutions for adults and children with severe to profound hearing loss, less than 10% of adults who could benefit receive a CI. Additionally, the provision varies hugely across Europe and around the world. CIs could potentially have an enormous impact on quality of life as well as providing long term savings to national health systems. However, referral guidelines for CIs across European member states lack consistency and clear referral pathways and guidelines need to be developed. The sharing of best practice and strategies for the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of severe hearing loss with innovative solutions, such as CIs, have the potential to maximize hearing health for all European citizens.