Childhood hearing loss: act now, here’s how
A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) "Childhood hearing loss: act now, here’s how" says that nearly 32 million children across the world live with disabling hearing loss. But 60% of this can be prevented. It also highlights that if hearing loss is detected early enough, and if children receive the care they need, they can reach their full potential.
“A child who struggles to hear may also struggle to learn to speak, underachieve at school and end up socially isolated,” says Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention. “But this doesn’t have to happen. We have a range of tools to help prevent, detect and treat childhood hearing loss.”
Most childhood hearing loss can be prevented
There are many causes of childhood hearing loss. It is estimated that 40% is attributable to genetic causes; 31% to infections such as measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis; and 17% to complications at birth, including prematurity, low birth weight and neonatal jaundice. In addition, an estimated 4% results from expectant mothers and new-borns unknowingly using medicines that are harmful to hearing.
To prevent childhood hearing loss WHO says that immunizing children against diseases and regulating certain medicines and noise levels are vital.
Find out more about World Hearing Day.
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