Next Friday, March 3, is World Hearing Day, a perfect day to raise awareness among the population regarding the importance of this sense and prevent ear problems, which can cause hearing loss and even deafness.
More than 5% of the world’s population suffers from disabling hearing loss, around 432 million adults and 34 million children. It is estimated that by 2050, one in ten inhabitants of the planet will have hearing loss. Furthermore, approximately one third of people over the age of 65 have poor hearing, which contributes to their social isolation and cognitive decline.
Dr. Rober Valdés, head of the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Ribera Povisa Hospital, explains that there are different types of hearing loss depending on its origin (external, middle, internal or mixed ear); type (transmission, perception, mixed, central), cause (congenital and acquired); and degree (mild, medium, severe and profound).
How to prevent ear problems
It is estimated that half of the cases of hearing loss can be prevented with public health measures. Doctor Valdés also assures that in children under 15 years of age, 60% of the cases are attributable to preventable causes. “Early detection and intervention are essential to minimize the effects of hearing loss in the population,” he explains, and for this reason he recommends neonatal screening, preschool and school check-ups, and professional hearing check-ups.
Taken to our day to day, the professionals of the Ribera health group give us some general guidelines to help us take care of the health of our ears:
- Do not abuse the use of headphones
- Be careful with the volume of headphones, television and radio
- Reduce to 30 decibels any ambient noise at night to achieve a good sleep
- Do not put objects in the ear. Do not use fingers, feathers, cotton sticks, or branches to clean this area.
- Go to regular reviews, at least once a year, in hearing centers, especially if you perceive any hearing loss or have a family history
- Use specific hearing protectors in noisy environments, such as industry, motorcycle circulation, festive events and when working with heavy machinery, among others.
- Do not bathe in contaminated water or where there are doubts regarding its quality. You might get an infection.
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