The hearing healthcare workforce: insights into density, distribution and opportunities for capacity-development.

OBJECTIVE

Hearing loss is a major global health concern, yet many countries lack the necessary workforce to provide hearing care services. This study aimed to evaluate the global distribution, availability, and training of hearing healthcare providers, including audiologists and other professionals involved in hearing care.

DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted from June 2022 to March 2024 by the Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, collecting national-level data from 93 countries representing 77 percent of the world's population. Responses were analysed by income classification and geographic region based on World Bank and World Health Organization categories.

RESULTS

The global density of audiologists was 1.48 per 100,000 people, with more than 70 percent of countries reporting fewer than one audiologist per 100,000. The overall hearing healthcare workforce density was 4.1 per 100,000 population. Training opportunities were limited in low-income countries, where 83 percent of audiologists were trained outside their home country. The African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asian regions were especially underserved. Workforce roles and service scope varied widely across regions and income levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight critical disparities and emphasise the need for targeted workforce planning and sustainable training programs to improve global hearing care.