Hearing Problems Among Indonesian Children Remain High, Health Ministry Reports 1.8 Percent of Population Affected

Hearing problems in Indonesia remain a significant public health challenge from 2013 to the present day. Latest data from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) shows that early detection through screening continues to be the key strategy for preventing long-term impacts, especially in children.

The Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (PTM) at Kemenkes, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, revealed that the main challenge is public awareness in recognising ear problems, whether caused by organ damage or simply earwax accumulation.

Based on the results of the Free Health Check (CKG) programme throughout 2025, a total of 18.6 million people aged over 7 years underwent screening. Of this number, 1.8 percent were detected with hearing disorders.

“From the CKG programme results in 2025 alone, 18.6 million people were screened and 1.8 percent of them had ear problems. The majority were earwax-related issues,” Nadia stated during a press conference at the Ministry of Health office in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March.

This trend continued into early 2026. By March 2026, 4.1 million people had undergone CKG examinations, with 51,000 people or approximately 1.24 percent identified as experiencing hearing disorders.

Nadia emphasised that since 2013, hearing disorders have consistently been a significant health obstacle. This is of serious concern because hearing problems have a major cascading impact on the future of young generations.

Marking World Hearing Day on 3 March 2026, the government focused attention on protecting children’s hearing. This year’s theme is “From Communities to Classroom, Hearing Care for Every Child”.

Hearing is not merely a sensory function, but the foundation for a child’s growth and development. Untreated disorders can hinder various aspects of life, including speech development, educational achievement, social integration, and future employment opportunities.

Through this year’s commemoration, the Ministry of Health called on the public to pay greater attention to ear health from an early age, from newborns to the elderly, to create a more productive and higher-quality generation.

Conduct ear examinations regularly at least every six months at the nearest health facility to prevent serumen accumulation (earwax), which can impair hearing.