Hearing for Life

Hearing is an important sense humans have. Right from birth hearing is very important for language, literacy and brain development. The incidence of hearing disabilities are staggering. 360 million people in the world suffer from disabling hearing loss. This constitutes a substantial 5.3% of the world population. The estimated prevalence of adult onset deafness was found to be 7.6% and childhood onset deafness to be 2%.

WHO has listed major cause of hearing loss and ear disease in India. Ear wax (15.9%) was the most common cause of reversible hearing loss. Noninfectious causes such as aging and presbycusis are the next common causes of auditory impairment in India (10.3%). Middle ear infections such as chronic suppurative otitis media (5.2%) Serous Otitis media (3%)  and other dry dry tympanic membrane perforation (0.5%). Bilateral genetic and congenital deafness (0.2%)  commonly occurs due to congenital jaundice, low birth weight, ototoxic medications and viral infections and 50% are thought to be hereditary. Sometimes babies and children seem very alert though they have deafness, so you think they can hear you well, but they are actually using other senses to know what is going on around them. Or, as they grow older, they learn to read lips on their own.

If you have any concerns for your child, family members or yourself, go to a centre that can test your hearing. Basic diagnostic test for hearing called Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) is available in District Hospitals across the state. Ottoaccoustic Emission (OAE) test is available at NHAK (Naga Hospital Authority Kohima) which can screen hearing problems for infants and even unconscious patients. A diagnostic test for hearing loss called Brainstem Evoked Response Audiomery (BERA) will soon be available at NHAK. It is a simple, noninvasive, objective test for early identification of hearing impairment in children and neonates. It can be used as a screening test and is useful in newborns, infants, and other difficult-to-test patients.

Each year World Health Organisation (WHO) observe World Hearing Day on 3rd March to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. The theme for this year is “DONT LET HEARING LOSS LIMIT YOU”. Hearing problems can cause drop in self- esteem and confidence because of impaired ability to communicate with other people. It can decrease educational and job opportunities due to impaired communication. Social withdrawal occurs due to reduced access to services. The high burden of deafness globally and in India is largely preventable and avoidable.  Minimise your exposure to loud noises, never listen to music through headphones with volume all the way up and wear ear plugs during any activity that exposes you to loud noise (at or above 85db). Let us create awareness among our people and try to eliminate stigma, isolation and other associated health issues that come with hearing loss and how to improve the overall quality of life for people with deafness or hearing impairment.