Millions of people across the world are living with hearing loss without knowing it, a situation that continues to affect education, employment opportunities and quality of life, particularly in developing countries where access to hearing care remains limited.

Against this backdrop, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched WHOears, a new digital hearing screening application designed to bring early hearing detection services closer to communities.

The free application, developed for use by trained health workers, provides a standardised hearing screening process using a tablet and ordinary headphones, making it possible to conduct hearing tests in community and primary healthcare settings without the need for expensive specialist equipment.

WHO said hearing screening remains the most important first step in identifying hearing loss and ensuring that those affected receive timely intervention and support.

More than 1.5 billion people worldwide are estimated to be living with some degree of hearing loss, yet access to basic hearing tests remains out of reach for many communities.

The global health body said the new application was developed to help bridge that gap by enabling systematic screening in schools, clinics and communities through a simple, low-cost approach.

For Zimbabwe, the development comes at a time when access to hearing healthcare services remains a challenge, particularly in rural and remote communities where specialist audiology services are limited.

Many people with hearing difficulties often go undiagnosed for years, while children with hearing impairments can struggle academically due to delayed detection and intervention.

Hearing loss is also increasingly associated with preventable conditions such as untreated ear infections, exposure to excessive noise, certain diseases and ageing.

However, awareness of hearing health remains low, resulting in many cases only being identified after significant hearing damage has already occurred.

The introduction of WHOears is expected to strengthen community-based screening efforts by allowing trained health workers to conduct hearing tests closer to where people live, reducing the need for costly referrals and long-distance travel to specialist centres

The application guides healthcare workers through a step-by-step tone-based screening process for individuals aged five years and above and can be used in any quiet environment.

The launch comes as hearing loss is increasingly being recognised as a major public health challenge globally. According to WHO, hearing impairment often goes undetected for years, resulting in delayed treatment and avoidable difficulties in communication, learning and social participation.

The organisation said expanding access to hearing screening is critical in reducing the burden of hearing loss and improving health outcomes.

WHOears is expected to support governments, healthcare institutions, development partners and community health programmes seeking to strengthen ear and hearing care services, particularly in underserved areas.

The application's introduction also reflects growing efforts to use technology to improve access to healthcare services and promote early detection of conditions that can significantly affect people's lives if left untreated.

For Zimbabwe, where healthcare delivery is increasingly focusing on community-based services and early disease detection, the availability of a simple and affordable hearing screening tool could help identify hearing problems earlier and improve access to treatment and rehabilitation services.