Hearing difficulty issues in the spotlight
MARCH 3 was World Hearing Day and the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that, globally, more than 430 million people experience disabling hearing loss.
‘When unaddressed, hearing loss poses a significant challenge for all age groups, hindering language development, communication, cognition and limiting access to education, employment and social interactions,’ says the WHO.
That view is endorsed by local audiologist and speech therapist, Laila Karma who noted the following advice and helpful facts:
• Good hearing means good communication
• Hearing loss can be avoided through preventative action such as protection against loud sounds, good ear care practices and immunisations
• Hearing loss (and ear-related 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
• People with hearing loss (or related ear disease) should seek care from a health provider
• Our sense of hearing connects us to friends and peers, and most importantly to people we love
• Hearing impairment hinders the development of communication in babies, therefore every infant should be tested. Earlier detection means earlier treatment
• Children can fall behind in school by not hearing the teacher well. Children receiving timeous amplification can perform equally as well as their peers in the classroom
• 1 in 6 adults experience some degree of hearing loss, with one of the biggest challenges being unable to follow conversation in a noisy environment
• Hearing loss can isolate you from social activities. Social interaction stimulates your brain. Hearing aids improve social interaction and therefore the use of hearing aids decreases the risk of mental decline
Heed the signs
• Karma says there are a number of signs that would indicate whether a person is suffering hearing loss.
• ‘If you answer yes to most of the questions below, it may be a sign of hearing loss, but you will still need a professional hearing test to confirm it’:
• Do you feel people around you are mumbling or speaking softly?
• Do you find it difficult to follow conversation in a noisy environment, such as in a restaurant or in groups?
• ·Do family members complain that you do not hear them and they have to keep repeating themselves?
• ·Do you have to turn up the volume of the TV, radio or phone?
• · Do you prefer to look at the person’s face to understand what they are saying?
• Have you noticed that environmental sounds such as birds twittering and clocks ticking, are gone?
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Rephrase or repeat if necessary
• Use an app that can translate speech into text or writing
• Wear a clear mask if possible, so your lips are visible