A deaf person has little to no hearing. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to learn spoken language and in adults it can create difficulties with social interaction and at work. In some people, particularly older people, hearing loss can result in loneliness. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent.
Hearing loss may be caused by a number of factors, including: genetics, ageing, exposure to noise, some infections, birth complications, trauma to the ear, and certain medications or toxins. A common condition that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections. Certain infections during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus, syphilis and rubella, may also cause hearing loss in the child. Hearing loss is diagnosed when hearing testing finds that a person is unable to hear 25 decibels in at least one ear. Testing for poor hearing is recommended for all newborns. Hearing loss can be categorized as mild, moderate, moderate-severe, severe, or profound. There are three main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.
About half of hearing loss globally is preventable through public health measures. Such practices include immunization, proper care around pregnancy, avoiding loud noise, and avoiding certain medications. The World Health Organisation recommends that young people limit the use of personal audio players to an hour a day in an effort to limit exposure to noise. Early identification and support are particularly important in children. For many hearing aids, sign language, cochlear implants and subtitles are useful. Lip reading is another useful skill some develop. Access to hearing aids, however, is limited in many areas of the world.
In the same vein,Tanzanians have been called upon to go for regular screening of the ear to get timely and effective interventions as figures show sharp increase of hearing losses among adults in sub-Saharan Africa caused by among others noise pollution and unregulated medical drug usage.
Dr Edwin Liyombo the head of otorhinolaryngology department at MNH made the remarks recently during the commemoration of the International Day of Hearing at the Muhimbili National Hospital’s Mloganzila branch.
The specialist said though there are no available data for Tanzania on the matter, unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of $750 billion.
He said interventions to prevent, identify and address hearing loss are cost effective and can bring great benefit to individuals.
According to Dr Liyombo it is estimated that there are 466 million people globally with hearing impairments with estimates showing that there will be 900 million people with hearing complications by 2050.
The day which is commemorated globally each year on 3rd March is cerebrated this year with the theme: “Hearing for life: Do not let hearing loss limit you”
It is estimated that for African countries in the sub-Saharan region, over 500 million people have hearing challenges which is almost 10-percent of the global population.
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