title: The projected burden of hearing loss in New Zealand (2011-2061) and the implications for the hearing health workforce.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is considerable evidence that New Zealand's population is ageing. For example, the median age increased from 29 years in 1951 to 37 years in 2011-12, and will likely increase to 44 years by 2061. While the implications of an ageing population have been studied, to date there is no study investigating the impacts that population ageing will have on hearing health in New Zealand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the changing population structure and estimate the burden of hearing loss in New Zealand between 2011 and 2061.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using three alternative population projections from Statistics New Zealand, we quantify the likely distribution of the population between 2011 and 2061 by age and sex. Published estimates of hearing loss stratified by age and severity of hearing loss were then applied to the population projections to highlight the potential impact that population ageing will have on hearing loss in New Zealand in the next 50 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated that there were 330,269 people aged ≥14 years with hearing loss and this would increase to 449,453 in 2061. Overall, males have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than females, and while the prevalence of hearing loss among those aged 14-49 years is expected to decrease, the prevalence among the population aged ≥70 years is expected to double between 2011 and 2061.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, sex and geographical variations in hearing loss are expected in the next 50 years. Further research into ethnic and variations in hearing loss will be instrumental in targeting the future hearing health workforce required to accommodate these increases.
authors.affiliation: Spatial epidemiologist, Senior Lecturer, Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PO Box 92019 Auckland 1142 New Zealand. d.exeter@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Exeter
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Arier C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Grant D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Searchfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D019456:Health Transition; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000639:trends*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution