Facts about hearing loss
The Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal, along with a renowned surgeon and head of otorhinolaryngology, explain how hearing loss can occur and how it can be prevented.
THE number of people with hearing loss in Africa is rapidly increasing, and if nothing changes, the continent will carry the world’s highest burden of hearing loss by 2050. This is according to Dr Andile Lindokuhle Sibiya, renowned surgeon and head of otorhinolaryngology (the study of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Sibiya revealed these statistics during a discussion that was held by the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal in light of World Hearing Day celebrated on March 3.
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In revealing these statistics, she further revealed that hearing loss is said to be the second most common sensory impairment worldwide, and it affects more than 12 million South Africans.
“But it is often entirely preventable, with the World Health Organisation estimating that over 75% of childhood hearing loss in South Africa is completely preventable or treatable. With 1 in 5 children in South Africa having disabling hearing loss, awareness on prevention, screening and care is paramount,” she said.
She said that some of the causes of hearing loss are diseases that can be vaccinated against or those that are linked with improper sanitation. Other causes, such as HIV and TB, are diseases that can be managed through prevention or by taking medication correctly.
“The other big thing is a growing trend of hearing loss that is becoming more prevalent, especially within the 18–35 age group, which is linked to listening devices and excessive noise from cars, earphones and parties.
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“We’ve started seeing younger people presenting with severe hearing loss from the ages of 35 and 40, which is something that we’ve normally seen among elderly people. It’s a problem because these are young people who still need to work, travel the world, and see things, yet they have hearing loss that is quite significant.”
Sibiya urged people to think about their own future, to remember that the effects of excessive exposure to loud noise won’t be seen today but definitely a few years from now.
She also cautioned against the use of cotton wool, sticks and other objects to remove earwax, saying that only medicinal glycerin is safe for such purposes.
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