Focus on hearing loss prevention at HMC event
• More than 28,000 patients screened for hearing loss yearly while 7,209 and 303 patients have been fitted with hearing aids and cochlear implants, respectively
Causes of hearing loss and deafness, prevention, screening and diagnosis, and management are the highlights of a series of events marking World Hearing Day, organised this week by Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Audiology and Balance Department under the theme ‘Hearing care for All! Screen. Rehabilitate. Communicate’.
Activities marking the day included a virtual World Hearing Day seminar attended by around 300 participants and awareness campaigns organised across Hamad General Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Women’s Wellness and Research Center and Ambulatory Care Center.
The World Hearing Day, which falls on every March 3, raises awareness of hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis to prevent complications as well as support for people living with hearing loss. This year’s event coincides with the launch of the World Report on Hearing, presenting a global call for action to address hearing loss and ear diseases across the life course.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says hearing loss may result from genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs, exposure to excessive noise, and ageing.
According to the WHO’s statistics, around 466mn people worldwide have disabling hearing loss and 34mn of these are children. It is estimated that by 2050 over 900mn people will have disabling hearing loss.
“The causes of hearing loss and deafness can be congenital or acquired,” noted audio-vestibular medicine consultant and head of Audiology and Balance Department, Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi. He explained, “Hearing loss can be caused by hereditary and non-hereditary genetic factors or by certain complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including maternal rubella, syphilis or certain other infections during pregnancy.”
According to him, in Qatar more than 28,000 patients are screened for hearing loss yearly while a total of 7,209 and 303 patients have been fitted with hearing aids and cochlear implants, respectively.
Acquired causes which may lead to hearing loss at any age, according to him include infectious diseases such as meningitis, measles and mumps; chronic ear infections; collection of fluid in the ear; and use of certain medicines, such as those used in the treatment of neonatal infections, malaria, drug-resistant tuberculosis, and cancers.
“In addition, other acquired causes can be injury to the head or ear; excessive noise, including occupational noise such as that from machinery and explosions; recreational exposure to loud sounds such as that from use of personal audio devices at high volumes and for prolonged periods of time and regular attendance at concerts, nightclubs, bars and sporting events; ageing, in particular due to degeneration of sensory cells; and wax or foreign bodies blocking the ear canal,” he said.
He said hearing loss and related ear diseases can be addressed when it is identified in a timely manner and appropriate care is sought. “People at risk of hearing loss should check their hearing regularly.”