WHO: 2.5 Billion young people could lose their hearing in 25 years

More than 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits, reports TASS, citing Batyr Berdyklychev, WHO representative in Russia.

According to the expert, by 2050, approximately 2.5 billion young people will suffer from some degree of hearing loss, while an additional 700 million will require rehabilitation due to hearing impairments. Currently, around 5% of the world's population suffers from hearing loss severe enough to cause disability.

Moreover, 60% of hearing loss cases in children are preventable, presenting significant opportunities to reduce the prevalence of hearing impairments in the future. The WHO representative emphasized that over 60% of hearing disorders can be treated at the primary care level, highlighting the importance of improving access to healthcare services.