A new study comparing audiological care across different counties found there is a huge disparity across high- and low-income countries.
Published in the International Journal of Audiology, the study was entitled ‘Global disparities in hearing care services and infrastructure: findings from a 47-country international provider survey’. It examines disparities in the availability of audiological services across World Bank income groups. 
An international cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed by the Global Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Initiative. A total of 135 responses were received from 47 countries. The survey evaluated the availability of audiology and support services across countries. Multiple responses from one country were combined into one entry. Statistical significance between groups was also assessed.
Significant disparities were identified across most service categories. High-income countries reported greater availability of newborn hearing screening, diagnostic tests, paediatric and adult hearing assessments, vestibular services, and hearing technologies compared to low-and middle-income countries. Advanced diagnostic tools and hearing devices such as cochlear implants were significantly more accessible in countries with higher incomes.
The study concludes that efforts to bridge these significant gaps are essential for achieving equitable hearing health care worldwide.
For the full paper, see:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2026.2687005?utm_source=hearingtracker.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=b2d30137-fa01-4ea4-b0f8-3117a949bc53#abstract
