Epidemiological profile of pediatric hearing loss: Global, regional and national analysis

Abstract

Pediatric hearing loss is a priority public health challenge worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 34 million children suffer from disabling hearing loss, and 60% of these losses are preventable [1]. This article analyzes the epidemiological profile of hearing loss in children using a multilevel approach: global, regional (Latin America), and national (Ecuador), with an emphasis on the Ecuadorian coast. In Ecuador, approximately 5% of the population has some degree of hearing loss, with prevalences of 4.3% in children under 4 years of age and 5% in children aged 5 to 9 years [2]. The country has one of the highest rates of microtia and atresia of the external auditory canal worldwide, with 10.6 cases per 10,000 newborns (1.06 per 1,000), significantly higher than the global average of 2.06 per 10,000 [3][4]. In the coastal region, hospitals such as Teófilo Dávila in Machala treat an average of 4,000 patients annually in Audiology and have received $30,000 worth of equipment to strengthen early diagnosis [5]. It is concluded that strengthening early detection systems and intersectoral coordination are key strategies for reducing the burden of childhood hearing loss.