Dimapur, March 1 (MExN): World Hearing Day is held on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. On World Hearing Day 2018, World Health Organisation (WHO) will draw attention towards the anticipated rise in the number of people with hearing loss across the world with the theme “Hear the future”.
Raising awareness of the Day, Dr. R. Zhimatho Nyusou, ENT specialist, NHAK in an article highlights that the aim is to raise awareness regarding hearing loss and to promote ear and hearing care at the national and community levels across the world.
The key messages for this event will highlight:
• Expected rise in prevalence of hearing loss globally over the coming years
• Efforts that are required to stem the rise through appropriate preventive action
• Need to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to the required rehabilitation services and the communication tools and products they require
360 million people live with disabling hearing loss, 750 billion is the overall cost of un-addressing hearing loss globally. WHO estimates that 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. This includes exposure to loud sounds on personal audio devices and in noisy entertainment venues that emit sounds commonly operated at unsafe volumes.
Inadequate hearing protection during activities like shooting firearms and listening to music may significantly contribute to communication difficulties in later life. In young children it impairs language acquisition. Learning disabilities, anxiety and attention-seeking behaviours are also common in children exposed to loud sounds.
Prevention of harm from exposure to loud sounds
• Keep the volume down
• Use carefully fitted buds
• Limit the time spent engaged in noisy activities
• Wear ear plugs
• Regular hearing checkups
Long time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the device may be more likely to have high frequency hearing loss. Usually using mobile phones for more than 30 minutes a day can change the hearing threshold.
The main reason for hearing loss is exposure of the ear to electromagnetic field emitted by the mobile phones which further add to the damage. Initial hearing loss is temporary and hardly noticeable by the person or his significantly close people only after significant hearing occurs, the person notices changes in understanding speech in crowded or noisy places.
Hearing loss due to using cell phones can be prevented by the following ways:
• Limit the use of cell phones to necessary talking and go for landlines when possible
• Do not use low quality ear phones
• Use speakers mode when the chat is very long
• Bluetooth headset can reduce the exposure to electromagnetic radiation
• Use low volume levels for listening to music
Parents need to play an active role in educating their children about safe listening and monitoring their exposure to loud noise. They also need to be role models of safe listening for their children.
Teachers should also educate children and adolescents about the possible dangers of exposure to loud sounds from the misuse of personal audio devices and encourage to develop safe listening habits. Such information should be part of the health education curriculum.
Mobile phones and recreational places/devices are here to stay and further improve. One cannot stay away from them and lag behind when technology is progressing. It is necessary to educate oneself from the dangers and use strategies to prevent from hearing loss and other harmful effects.
