WHO ear and hearing: survey handbook

Overview

This survey handbook was developed using a consultative process, which was coordinated by WHO’s team on ‘Sensory functions; Disability; and Rehabilitation’ in Geneva. Following the decision to update the WHO Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol, an expert meeting was held in November 2015 to discuss the scope and nature of revisions and to review newer available technologies for assessment of hearing.

Based on the outcomes of the meeting, a validation study of software applications designed to test hearing was undertaken and its results have informed some of the methods outlined in this survey handbook. An outline of the structure and contents was developed by WHO and reviewed by experts. The initial draft was prepared by WHO with inputs from consultant epidemiologists. The expert group reviewed three drafts of the survey handbook.

The final draft was also reviewed by the WHO regional offices. It underwent field evaluation in India and Kenya in order to assess its usability and feasibility and to identify any practical difficulties encountered during implementation. On the basis of the inputs and comments received from reviewers, the survey handbook was modified and reviewed within WHO.