Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 03/Mar 18:26

Hearing Day: Clubhouse, party noise emerging causes of hearing loss-expert

By Chidinma Ewunonu-AlukoAn Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultant, Dr John Babarinde, has identified the rising exposure to recreational noise from clubhouses and parties as an emerging cause of hearing loss.Babarinde, of the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, remarked while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday in observance of World Hearing Day.He said many young people were globally at risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud music from personal listening devices and noisy environments.According to Babarinde, most of the leading causes of hearing loss in adults include excessive noise exposure, use of ototoxic drugs, ear infections, and ear wax impaction.“Other causes include trauma to the ears, age-related, heredity, and some poorly managed chronic diseases like diabetes, among others,” said the consultant.He added that childhood hearing loss could be caused by congenital anomalies of the ear, chronic ear infections, and perinatal problems like birth asphyxia and low birth weight.“Infections like measles and meningitis can also bring about childhood hearing loss,” he said.The ENT surgeon emphasises that this year's theme, “Changing mindsets: Empower yourself, Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All”, is a powerful call to action.“Despite the increasing burden of hearing loss, ear and hearing care remain underprioritised in many African countries.“Individuals and communities are, therefore, encouraged to take charge of their hearing health by adopting preventive measures and advocating for better access to care.“If hearing loss is not addressed on time, it can hinder speech development, academic progress and economic opportunities.“Hearing loss can ultimately result to social isolation, stigmatisation and reduced quality of life,” he said.The expert said people with hearing loss would find it difficult to understand what people say, always asking for what was said to be repeated.“They will often ask people to speak more clearly and loudly; they will always see the need to turn up the television or radio volume.“Others will sit very close to the person talking, shouting while talking and looking directly into the face of the person talking,” he said.Babarinde underscored the need for government and stakeholders to establish functional national ear and hearing care programmes.According to him, education and awareness campaigns must be engaged to improve access to hearing care in rural communities and combat stigma and misperceptions about hearing loss.“There is a need to strengthen national policies to integrate hearing care into primary healthcare.“The government and stakeholders are advised to invest in assistive devices to ensure that hearing aids, cochlear implants and other technologies are available and affordable for the needy,” he said.He expressed worries over the number of people who might have some degree of hearing loss without knowing it.“Perfect hearing is needed to communicate, have good education, be gainfully employed and to have good interpersonal relation in the community.“Awareness of ear problems that lead to hearing loss and early detection and appropriate care will help the society.“To address the challenge of hearing loss, so much must be done to ensure access to quality ear and hearing care for all.“Individuals need to be aware of symptoms, causes and effects of hearing loss and have good health-seeking behaviour,” the ENT surgeon said. (NAN)