Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Resource

The electronic version of WHO Training Resource on Primary Ear and Hearing Care on CD-ROM is a new set of four training manuals aimed at equipping primary health care workers in developing countries with simple and cost-effective methods to reduce the burden of ear and hearing disorders. Although half of all deafness and hearing impairment is avoidable, an estimated 278 million people worldwide are living with disabling hearing impairment (moderate or worse level of...
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The electronic version of WHO Training Resource on Primary Ear and Hearing Care on CD-ROM is a new set of four training manuals aimed at equipping primary health care workers in developing countries with simple and cost-effective methods to reduce the burden of ear and hearing disorders.

Although half of all deafness and hearing impairment is avoidable, an estimated 278 million people worldwide are living with disabling hearing impairment (moderate or worse level of hearing loss in the better hearing ear). Many more have mild hearing loss and/or ear diseases. One quarter of hearing impairment begins during childhood and 80% of all deaf and hearing-impaired people live in low and middle-income countries. These problems can be life-long and sometimes life threatening; they may have profound effects on: inter-personal communication, education, employment prospects, social relationships and through stigmatization. They produce substantial economic burdens on countries.

Some of the most effective and cost-effective interventions against ear and hearing problems can be implemented at the primary level by trained primary ear and hearing care (PEHC) workers or primary health care (PHC) workers or their equivalents. Used on a large scale, these interventions will have a major impact on the burden of ear disease and hearing loss. However most developing countries do not have PEHC workers and the topic is hardly addressed in the training of PHC workers. Workers in Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs rarely deal with this field.

The Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Resource addresses the urgent need for action to prevent and manage ear diseases and hearing impairment. The manuals provide practical information and guidance and can be used as part of a training course, stand-alone training module or in a self-taught manner. They are designed to be useful to a wide range of primary health care personnel. The manuals can also be used to help communities understand common causes of deafness and hearing impairment and ways to prevent and/or treat the conditions.

The WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training Resource consists of user-friendly manuals at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. Teaching aids such as posters are included.

They are culturally appropriate for training of village health workers, PEHC, PHC, and CBR workers, and also more experienced personnel working at primary level. The resource focuses on community involvement and raising awareness, and covers basic measures for prevention and management. A section on hearing aids is included for communities where there are no other trained personnel to help people use them effectively. It should help deaf and hard of hearing people to become accepted and productive at home, at school, in the workplace and in society in general.