Listen hear: the economic impact & cost of hearing loss in Australia
A report by Access Economics Pty Ltd, February 2006
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Study context
To date there has been no definitive research on the full economic impact of hearing loss in Australia, despite the large proportion of people who have hearing loss and its substantial effects on the capacity to communicate, to work and function effectively in an increasingly communication-intense society, as well as its impacts on quality of life. Access Economics has thus been commissioned by CRC HEAR and the Victorian Deaf Society to quantify those impacts and estimate both the financial costs and the loss of wellbeing from hearing loss in Australia for the year 2005, using a prevalence-based costing approach, accepted international methodology for valuing healthy life and Australian epidemiological data. Such analysis is important to inform policymaking and direct scarce health resources to preventive and therapeutic interventions that are most cost-effective.
Study context
To date there has been no definitive research on the full economic impact of hearing loss in Australia, despite the large proportion of people who have hearing loss and its substantial effects on the capacity to communicate, to work and function effectively in an increasingly communication-intense society, as well as its impacts on quality of life. Access Economics has thus been commissioned by CRC HEAR and the Victorian Deaf Society to quantify those impacts and estimate both the financial costs and the loss of wellbeing from hearing loss in Australia for the year 2005, using a prevalence-based costing approach, accepted international methodology for valuing healthy life and Australian epidemiological data. Such analysis is important to inform policymaking and direct scarce health resources to preventive and therapeutic interventions that are most cost-effective.
Prevalence of hearing loss
One in six Australians is affected by hearing loss. Prevalence rates for hearing loss are associated with increasing age, rising from less than 1% for people aged younger than 15 years to three in every four people aged over 70 years. With an aging population, hearing loss is projected to increase to 1 in every 4 Australians by 2050.
The net consequence of hearing loss is a reduced capacity to communicate. The ability to listen and respond to speaking is reduced and for some, the ability to speak is lost or impaired. Reduced communication abilities impact on a person’s life chances through the reduced opportunity to equitably participate in education, to gain competitive skills and employment, and to participate in relationships. Adverse health effects are associated with hearing loss.
While interventions such as hearing aids and cochlear implants enhance a person’s ability to communicate, the majority of people with hearing loss (85%) do not have such devices.
One in six Australians is affected by hearing loss. Prevalence rates for hearing loss are associated with increasing age, rising from less than 1% for people aged younger than 15 years to three in every four people aged over 70 years. With an aging population, hearing loss is projected to increase to 1 in every 4 Australians by 2050.
The net consequence of hearing loss is a reduced capacity to communicate. The ability to listen and respond to speaking is reduced and for some, the ability to speak is lost or impaired. Reduced communication abilities impact on a person’s life chances through the reduced opportunity to equitably participate in education, to gain competitive skills and employment, and to participate in relationships. Adverse health effects are associated with hearing loss.
While interventions such as hearing aids and cochlear implants enhance a person’s ability to communicate, the majority of people with hearing loss (85%) do not have such devices.
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