360 million people in the world live with deafness/hearing loss
360 million
people in the world live with deafness/hearing loss
As per the statistics of the World
Health Organization, 360 million people around the globe, which equals 5% of
the population, suffer from effects of hearing loss. Ear infections, typically
accompanied by discharge from the ear, can lead to hearing loss and may even
cause dangerous complications like meningitis and brain abscesses.
A higher prevalence of hearing during
childhood is associated with lower levels of development. Early detection of
hearing impairments are important components of
support for deaf or hearing-impaired
babies. Each type of hearing loss has several distinct causes. Exposure to loud
noise is a common reason for hearing loss. Ear infections are also a common reason,
as are genetics, birth defects, and reaction to drugs.
There are three types of hearing loss or
deafness:
1.
Conductive
(involves outer or middle ear)
2.
Sensorineural
(involves inner ear)
3.
Mixed
(a combination of the two)
Aging and chronic exposure to loud
noises both add to hearing loss. Different factors, like excessive earwax, can
temporarily reduce the conductivity of sounds. There are various causes of each
kind of hearing loss.
Causes of conductive hearing
loss:
·
Wax
build-up
·
Infections
of the ear canal or middle ear
·
Scarring
of the eardrum
·
Abnormal
growths or tumors
·
Dislocation
of the middle ear bones
·
Foreign
object in the ear canal
·
Abnormal
bone growth in the middle ear or Otosclerosis
Causes of sensorineural hearing
loss:
·
Aging
·
Damage
·
Excessive
noise exposure
·
Viral
infections
·
Diabetes
·
Stroke
·
High
fever or elevated body temperature
·
Smoking
·
Hypertension
·
Meningitis
Signs and symptoms people
suffering from deafness may show include:
·
Muffling
of speech and other sounds.
·
Difficulty
understanding words during a conversation, especially against background noise.
·
Trouble
hearing consonants.
·
Frequently
requesting others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly.
·
The
need to turn up the volume of the television or radio.
·
Withdrawal
from conversations.
Impact of hearing loss:
·
The
principal impacts of hearing loss are on the person's ability to communicate
with others. Language development is often delayed in kids with unaddressed
hearing loss.
·
Hearing
loss and ear diseases can have an adverse effect on the life of an individual.
·
Exclusion
from conversations can impact everyday life, causing feelings of loneliness,
dejection, isolation, and frustration, particularly among older individuals.
·
Kids
with hearing loss and deafness rarely receive any schooling.
·
Adults
with hearing loss do not have many employment opportunities. Among those who
are employed, a higher percentage in the lower grades of employment.
Preventive measures:
It is suggested that hearing loss can be
prevented through general health measures. Some simple measures for prevention
of hearing loss include:
·
Vaccinating
children against childhood diseases such as measles, meningitis, and rubella
·
Following
healthy ear care practices
·
Reducing
exposure to loud sounds by raising awareness about the dangers by developing
and enforcing relevant legislation;
·
Encouraging
individuals to use devices such as earplugs and noise-canceling headphones.
·
Implementing
the global standard for audio systems.
·
Referring
infants with a family history of deafness or those born with low birth weight,
jaundice, for early assessment of hearing,
·
Educating
the population in general on hearing loss, its causes, prevention, and
identification.
Awareness is a way of prevention. Early
detection and intervention will help in minimizing the impact of hearing loss.
People with hearing loss can benefit from the use of hearing aids and other
assistive devices.
Patients who suspect something is wrong
with their hearing should consult a doctor.
At Pulse clinic, the patients are given
proper guidance and treatment depending on the severity of their deafness. With
a physical examination and various tests, it becomes easy to determine the type
of hearing loss. Pulse clinic provides the best available treatment for people
with all types of hearing loss.
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