One in four will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

One in four of the world's population will suffer from hearing problems by 2050, the World Health Organization warned yesterday, calling for extra investment in prevention and treatment. The first-ever global report on hearing said that the causes of many of the problems -- such as infections, diseases, birth defects, noise exposure and lifestyle choices -- could be prevented.  One in five people worldwide have hearing problems currently, it said. Since nearly 80 percent of people with hearing loss live in poor countries, most are not getting the help they need.