Audiology in Developing Countries

Review Review AUDIOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or Reviewby any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services. Review AUDIOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BRADLEY MCPHERSON AND RON BROUILLETTE EDITORS Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York Review Copyright © 2008 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic, tape, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the Publisher. For permission to use material from this book please contact us: Telephone 631-231-7269; Fax 631-231-8175 Web Site: http://www.novapublishers.com NOTICE TO THE READER The Publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this book, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained in this book. The Publisher shall not be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting, in whole or in part, from the readers’ use of, or reliance upon, this material. Any parts of this book based on government reports are so indicated and copyright is claimed for those parts to the extent applicable to compilations of such works. Independent verification should be sought for any data, advice or recommendations contained in this book. In addition, no responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from any methods, products, instructions, ideas or otherwise contained in this publication. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered herein. It is sold with the clear understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or any other professional services. If legal or any other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent person should be sought. FROM A DECLARATION OF PARTICIPANTS JOINTLY ADOPTED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND A COMMITTEE OF PUBLISHERS. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA (Available upon request.) ISBN 978-1-63484-666-0 (eBook) Published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York Review CONTENTS Preface vii Dedication ix Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Bradley McPherson and Ron Brouillette Chapter 2 Audiology: A Developing Country Context 5 Bradley McPherson Chapter 3 Demographics of Hearing Loss in Developing Countries 21 Andrew W. Smith Chapter 4 Education and Practice of Audiology Internationally: Affordable and Sustainable Education Models for Developing Countries 51 Helen Goulios and Robert Patuzzi Chapter 5 Screening for Hearing Loss in Developing Countries 75 Bradley McPherson, and Bolajoko O. Olusanya Chapter 6 Providing Diagnostic Audiology Services in Economically Challenged Regions 107 Jackie L. Clark and Valerie Newton Chapter 7 Rehabilitation of Hearing Loss: Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Countries 141 Ron Brouillette Chapter 8 Hearing Aid Provision in Developing Countries: An Indian Case Study 155 Vijayalakshmi Basavaraj Chapter 9 Educational Audiology in Developing Countries 167 ReviewSusie Miles and Wendy McCracken vi Contents Chapter 10 Audiological Counseling in a Developing Country: A Journey through Guatemala 181 Patricia Castellanos de Muñoz and Sandra E. Sosa Chapter 11 Occupational Hearing Loss in Developing Countries 189 Geoffrey K. Amedofu and Adrian Fuente Chapter 12 Resources for Audiologists in Developing Countries 223 Bradley McPherson and Ron Brouillette Contributing Authors 231 Index 233 Review PREFACE In 1988, Sanford Gerber and I edited a book entitled “International Perspectives on Communication Disorders”. The first chapter discussed the World Health Organization General Assembly resolution of 15 May 1985 pertaining to hearing problems, in which it was stated: “… that the attainment of health for all requires increased activity for the prevention of hearing impairment” and further, that, “… in developing countries most of the hearing impairment, which occurs in excessive prevalence in some communities, results from causes that can be prevented at the primary health level” or is “… reversible or remediable”. That was twenty years ago! Since then much has been accomplished in documenting the incidence and prevalence of hearing impairment in both the developed and developing worlds, and in building hearing aids and drug therapy programs which can ease the economic, social and individual burdens resulting from hearing loss, especially in the developing world. Another of the key hearing health care advances of the past twenty years has been the introduction of universal systems for newborn hearing screening. We see such programs proliferating all over the developed world; but are those in the developing world any less needy? What is happening there? Of course, one of the most significant advances of the last twenty years is the growth, expansion and recognition of the profession of Audiology all over the world. With that change came an appreciation for the significant contribution audiology makes to improving hearing health care. We no longer hear questions about what an audiologist does. Now what we hear are complaints about the lack of audiologists and their services. For most of the developing world the presence of a barely adequate number of fully trained audiologists is still a dream. The good news is that we now have service/clinical standards and a model curriculum for training. These were developed through the good work of the European Federation of Audiology Societies and the International Society of Audiology. The bad news is that there are insufficient funds, programs and fully trained audiologists to put those standards in place or to apply the model curriculum in many parts of the world. But there is hope! I am delighted to report membership in the International Society of Audiology is growing rapidly and now represents 70 nations and every continent, and that our student membership represents 10 nations as diverse as Australia, Iran, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, China and the Philippines. I have no doubt that the next twenty years will continue to see major changes in service everywhere. Change is upon us, and yet it is slow in coming. Clearly the time has come when there is Reviewa tremendous need for a complete discussion and summary of “Audiology in Developing viii George Mencher Countries”. Why? Because we need to know what we know, what we don’t know, what we are doing, what we are not doing, and what we should be doing to advance hearing health services in the developing world. Bradley McPherson and Ron Brouillette have taken on the task of developing such a work, and have made a powerful effort to answer these significant questions. Andrew Smith has been leading efforts to collect reliable international demographic data on hearing impairment, within the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness program at the World Health Organization. Who better than him to discuss the demographics of hearing loss in developing countries? Further, Bola Olasanya (Nigeria), Jackie Clark (USA), Valerie Newton (UK), Wendy McCracken and Susie Miles (UK), Geoffrey Amedofu (Kenya), Adrian Fuente (Chile), Helen Goulios and Robert Patuzzi (Australia), Vijayalakshmi Basavaraj (India) and Patricia Castellanos and Sandra Sosa (Guatemala) are internationally renowned persons with significant expertise in their topic areas who represent 6 continents and 8 countries. Each brings a maturity and world-wide perspective to their chapters. All have extensive experience throughout the world as they have charted new courses, established programs or provided much needed services to emerging countries and regions. This is a book which covers the theoretical, statistical, technical and practical aspects of Audiology in Developing Countries. I am delighted to invite you to enter its pages and to feel how far we have come in the past twenty years and to learn how far we need to go! George Mencher, PhD Assistant Secretary General, International Society of Audiology Professor of Audiology, Dalhousie University Director Emeritus, Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada Review DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the memory of Christopher Adrian Holborow MD FRCS OBE, former Chairman of the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf. Christopher Holborow was a compassionate pioneer in the field of hearing health care in developing nations and a firm believer in the importance of good hearing for everyone, wherever they were found. He was an inspiring mentor for many audiologists who carry on his passion for better hearing in developing countries. We believe he would have been pleased to see how the seeds of his knowledge and vision have grown. ‘Go in search of your people Love them Learn from them Plan with

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