WHO Study: Hearing Screening Pays Off—Investments Can Yield a Return of Up to Fifteen Times the Investment
Is there a return on investment (ROI) for hearing care? To find out, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a cost-benefit analysis of various measures to address hearing loss as part of a model study. The result: Hearing care is actually very worthwhile.
Untreated hearing loss not only has health consequences but also carries significant societal costs. The economic burden on society caused by untreated hearing loss is estimated at 750 billion U.S. dollars annually worldwide. Early hearing care pays off, not only for the individual but also for society. This is because the investment in hearing health is much lower than the total monetary benefit.
WHO Study Examines the Cost-Effectiveness of Hearing Care
To counter the increasing prevalence of hearing loss, the WHO has compiled a compendium of the most important evidence-based ear and hearing care measures. How cost-effective are these measures, and what impact do they have on the budgets of different countries?
The WHO has examined the financial investments required between 2020 and 2030 to bring primary care services up to the recommended level. At the same time, the analysis considers the societal benefits that each U.S. dollar invested in hearing aid provision brings, including health benefits measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and productivity gains resulting from improved employment opportunities. The analysis shows that hearing care is also worthwhile from a financial perspective.
Model with Three Scenarios
The WHO calculated three scenarios. In doing so, it compared the monetary value of the DALYs averted—in addition to productivity gains—with the investments required in each scenario:
- Business-as-usual scenario:Current activities continue as they are.
- Progressscenario: Coverage is expanded by 50 percent, or the baseline level remains the same if coverage is already above 50 percent.
- Ambitious scenario:A coverage rate of 90 percent is achievable through sustained investment and strict implementation of the proposed measures by policymakers. Many countries have already achieved a 90 percent coverage rate for newborn hearing screening, but not for adult screening and care. Therefore, achieving a 90 percent coverage rate is a truly ambitious goal.
What are the HEAR measures?
The WHO uses the acronym HEAR to describe a set of four evidence-based interventions for hearing screening and care, the impact of which can be quantified. These are, specifically:
- Hearing screening and intervention for newborns and infants, preschool- and school-aged children, older adults, and adults at higher risk for hearing loss
- Prevention and treatment of ear diseases
- Access to technologies such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or hearing-assistive technologies
- Provision of rehabilitation services.
Hearing Care Leads to Global Productivity Gains
Expanding the four HEAR measures to achieve 90 percent coverage will require a total global investment of up to $8 billion over ten years. This investment promises significant health gains—equivalent to a monetary value of one to three trillion U.S. dollars—thanks to an estimated 130 million DALYs averted. At the same time, investments in hearing care will lead to global productivity gains of more than two trillion U.S. dollars by 2030. Overall, these benefits correspond to a return on investment of nearly 15 U.S. dollars for every U.S. dollar invested. Investments in hearing health are therefore not a cost factor but generate a high ROI. Hearing care pays off!
The “Ambitious” scenario estimates that $239 billion in investment is needed to increase coverage of HEAR interventions to 90 percent over the next ten years. Although this figure may seem staggering, this goal requires less than $45 per person over ten years in high-income countries. In low-income countries, the investment amounts to less than $20 per person. These investments could prevent nearly 130 million DALYs.
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High Costs Due to Untreated Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss has many consequences and also impacts costs across a wide range of sectors within a country. The healthcare sector bears the burden of high healthcare costs for children and adults when hearing loss is not treated in a timely manner. If hearing loss is not diagnosed and treated at a young age, it places a burden on the education sector due to the costs of special educational support. The loss of productivity resulting from unemployment and early retirement also has a significant impact on the labor market. At the societal level, the WHO estimates that the social isolation, communication difficulties, and stigmatization associated with untreated hearing loss cost society $573 billion each year.
Age-related hearing loss can develop gradually starting around age 50 and often go unnoticed for a long time. Our online hearing test can serve as a first, no-obligation step toward understanding your hearing. We strongly recommend a professional hearing test with an ENT specialist or hearing aid specialist.
