Hearing loss affects millions worldwide, but access to hearing aids remains sharply unequal.
A new study published in BMJ Global Health reveals that in countries where hearing problems are most widespread, very few people actually use hearing aids.
Researchers compared self-reported hearing loss and hearing aid use across 28 countries.
Four countries with hearing difficulties
In China, about 65 percent of participants said they had hearing difficulties, yet only one percent used hearing aids.
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The same pattern appeared in South Korea, Mexico, and Brazil, all countries with high rates of hearing loss but minimal device use.
By contrast, hearing aid adoption is far higher in North America and Western Europe.
In Norway, for instance, data from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health show that nearly six percent of the population used hearing aids in 2018, even though reported hearing loss has declined slightly.
Senior researcher Bo Engdahl from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health calls this one of the study’s most striking findings.
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However, he cautions that self-reported data should be interpreted carefully.
Why is the trend developing this way?
The researchers suggest several reasons for these disparities: cultural stigma, economic inequality, and limited access to audiologists or public support.
In Norway, hearing aids are provided free of charge, though patients may face long waiting times for assessment and fitting.
Social factors also matter. Bo Engdahl notes that people without close family or partners are less likely to seek help for hearing problems, even when their hearing is equally poor.
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The study also found gender differences, men reported hearing loss more often than women, possibly because estrogen offers some protection and men tend to work in noisier environments.
Interestingly, women are also more likely to use hearing aids once problems arise.
Sources: Forskning.no, and BMJ Global Health.
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