Deafness in the elderly population – an issue in need of more attention: A new challenge for CORAL
In Mexico, more than 48 million adults are over 30 years old, representing 43% of the country´s total population. In Oaxaca State, the amount of adults and elderly people reflects this national statistic, forming 42% of the population (INEGI, 2010 Population and Housing Census). Many of these individuals live in remote communities with scarce access to sprecialized healthcare services, such as audiology.

Through CORAL´s traveling Prevention and Early Detection program, we have become increasingly aware that the adult population, especially in rural settings, is underserved by the public healthcare system. This situation brings about serious problems with communication and causes social and economic marginalization. In situ healthcare, despite being a strategy that State mobile health units carry out in Oaxaca, does not offer audiologic services in rural communities.


At the beginning of the year, RENACES, a national NGO supporting social entrepreneurship by women, approached CORAL with a request for hearing tests for adults in various communities of the state where a need for audiologic care has been detected. This petition aligned well with CORAL´s new initiative to carry out mobile campaigns focused on adults. The adult campaign forms part of a comprehensive plan to strengthen microregions of Oaxaca, together with early detection campaigns and support for self-help groups.

On August 3 in the community of Teotitlán del Valle, CORAL, in coordination with RENACES, carried out its first audiologic campaign focused on adults and elderly in rural areas. Various members of CORAL´s team participated from the Prevention and Early Detection program, the Clinica and Social Work program. Dr. Rosa Angélica Barón Herrera and Dr. Aurora Miranda López administered audiometries, recorded clinical histories and performed ear cleanings on 31 people, and Nicole Kast issued hearing screening tests (oto-acustic emissions) to 13 children.

In addition to being welcomed by the community authorities, the campaign was well received by the population in general, and even after working all day long, we were still unable to serve all of the people waiting in line.

This experience not only confirmed the huge demand that exists for audiologic services, but it also established a new strategy and method of community healthcare for our organization. In the coming months, we hope to offer audiologic care to adults in more communities in different regions of the state.