VOA慢速英语2021 世卫组织警告称2050年将有25亿人存在听力障碍（在线收听）

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that 25 percent of the world's population, or 2.5 billion people, will have hearing problems by 2050.

世卫组织警告称，到2050年，全球25%人口（相当于25亿人）将存在听力障碍。

The warning came from the first-ever report on hearing from the United Nation's health agency.

该警告来自于这家联合国卫生机构的首份听力报告。

The report found that many of the causes of hearing loss are preventable. They include infections, disease, birth defects, too much noise and lifestyle choices.

该报告发现，造成听力损失的许多原因都是可以预防的。它包括感染、疾病、先天缺陷、噪音过大以及生活方式的选择。

To fight hearing loss, the report suggests measures which, it says, could cost what is equal to $1.33 for every person each year. WHO director-general Tedros Adhonom Ghebreyesus said the cost of doing nothing is very high, an estimated $1 trillion.

为了对抗听力损失，该报告提出了一些措施，据称这些措施每年可能花费人均1.33美元。世卫组织总干事谭塞德表示，不作为的代价非常高，估计为1万亿美元。

The U.N. researchers estimate that one in five people around the world already have hearing problems. But the report warned the number may increase to 2.5 billion people during the next 30 years. And 700 million would require some kind of treatment for hearing loss by 2050.

联合国研究人员估计，全球1/5人口已经存在听力障碍。但是该报告警告称，未来30年里，这一数字可能会增长到25亿。到2050年，将会有7亿人需要对听力损失进行某种形式的治疗。

Causes of hearing loss

听力损失的原因

The U.N. experts say in the report that many people with hearing loss cannot get care. This is especially a problem in poor countries where there are fewer health care professionals. Eighty percent of people with hearing loss live in poor countries.

联合国专家在报告中表示，许多听力受损的人士无法得到治疗。这在医疗保健专业人员较少的贫穷国家尤其是一个问题。听力损失者当中有80%生活在贫穷国家。

The report finds that, among those countries, 78 percent have fewer than one ear, nose and throat specialists for every million people. The numbers are similar for specialists who treat hearing, speech therapists and teachers for the deaf.

该报告发现，在这些国家中，78%的国家每百万人只有不到一位耳鼻喉专科医生。听力矫正医生、语言治疗师和聋人教师方面的比例也近似于此。

The report adds that even in rich countries, the ability to get hearing treatment is uneven. It said there is a lack of good information and a stigma surrounding hearing problems that prevents people from getting treatment.

该报告还称，即使是在发达国家，获得听力治疗的能力也是不均衡的。报告称，缺乏良好的信息渠道以及围绕听力问题的耻辱感使得人们无法获得治疗。

"Even among health-care providers, knowledge relevant to prevention, early identification and management of hearing loss and ear disease is commonly lacking."

“即使是在医疗保健提供者当中，通常也缺乏跟预防、及早识别、听力损失以及耳部疾病处理的相关知识。”

How to deal with hearing loss

如何处理听力损失

The report proposes active measures for solving the problem. It recommends public health campaigns aimed at reducing loud noise. It also calls for increased vaccinations against diseases like meningitis which have been linked to hearing loss.

该报告提出了解决这一问题的积极措施。它建议开展旨在减少噪音的公共卫生运动。它还呼吁提高与听力损失相关的脑膜炎等疾病的疫苗接种。

Other recommendations include systematic examination of people to identify problems at different points in their lives. For example, the report notes that 60 percent of hearing problems in children could be prevented. Programs to identify possible problems that target new mothers and babies can help too.

其它建议包括对人们进行系统检查，以发现他们人生不同阶段的问题。例如，报告指出，有60%的儿童听力问题是可以预防的。针对孕产妇和新生儿可能问题的诊断项目也会有帮助。

In addition, recent technological improvements, including easy-to-use tools, can identify ear disease and hearing loss at any age. It is now easier to carry out screening in difficult conditions like those found during the coronavirus health crisis and in "underserved" areas of the world.

此外，最新的技术进步，包括易于使用的工具可以识别任何年龄阶段的耳部疾病和听力损失。现在，在新冠病毒健康危机期间以及在世界上医疗服务不足的地区这种艰难条件下进行筛查也变得更加容易。