Deafness and other communication disorders news, resources and funding for global health researchers

The WHO estimates 360 million people — over 5 percent of the world's population — have disabling hearing loss, with the burden falling disproportionately on populations in low- and middle-income countries — as much as 80 percent. Up to 1 percent of people stutter and others have voice, language or other speech disorders.

At NIH, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) supports more than 1,000 research and training awards - including a number in low-resource settings - focusing on genes, infections, toxic compounds, brain and ear injury, and other factors that can contribute to communication disorders.

Many NIDCD-supported scientists have some global health research involvement. By studying large families that have a particular communication disorder, NIDCD scientists have discovered a number of genes associated with deafness and stuttering. These findings are steadily increasing scientific knowledge and moving science closer to more effective tools to diagnose and treat people with these communication disorders.

Recent News

• WHO releases new standard to tackle rising threat of hearing loss
  WHO Departmental news, March 2, 2022
• WHO examines global burden of hearing loss
  Mar / Apr 2021 Global Health Matters

NIH News and Resources

• Prioritizing hearing health care on World Hearing Day with the World Report on Hearing
  NIDCD/NIH news, March 3, 2021
• Focus on National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  May / June 2014 Global Health Matters
• Global research is vital for deafness, speech disorders
• Developing country studies identify causes of stuttering
• Deafness studies will speed path to new treatments
• Research in Pakistan yields findings on hereditary hearing loss
  

More NIDCD topic and research resources:

• Deafness resources:
• Hearing, ear infections and deafness
• Hearing loss and older adults
• Usher syndrome
  
• Perrault syndrome and ovarian failure
  NIDCD news release, March 28, 2013
• Variant of Usher syndrome gene preserves vision and balance
  NIDCD news release, January 6, 2012
• Stuttering resources:
• NIDCD stuttering fact sheet

Other Online Resources

• The Lancet Commission on Global Hearing Loss, supported by NIDCD
• World Health Organization (WHO):
  
• WHO World Hearing Forum
  
• WHO information on deafness and hearing loss
• WHO on World Hearing Day, observed annually on March 3
• NIDCD Resource Directory - Lists selected national organizations that provide information on communication disorders
  

Updated August 24, 2022