World Day of the Deaf is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September. This year it will be celebrated on 25^th September. This day is celebrated to draw the attention not only of affected people and their family members, but also to draw the attention of general public, politicians and development authorities towards the achievements and challenges of deaf people. This day also aims to promote understanding among common people about the problems of deaf people in the community all over the world.

According to WHO, there are 360 million people in the world with disabling hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss is defined as:

• Adults (15 years and older): hearing loss greater than 40 decibels (dB) in the better hearing ear;
• Children (0 – 14 years of age): hearing loss greater than 30 dB in the better hearing ear.

FAQs

What is ear discharge?
Ear discharge is drainage of ear wax, blood, pus, or any other kind of fluid from the ear.

What should I do in case of ear discharge?
In case of an ear discharge:

• Don’t  let water enter into the ear
• Don’t put oil or any other liquid in the ear
• Clean the discharge with a soft cloth.
• Blood or foul smells in discharge are symptoms of serious diseases.
• Continuous discharge from ear may cause deafness. Consult the doctor at the earliest.

Why should we take care of our ears?
Ears are one of the sensory organs and hearing power is one such medium which connects us with the world.

When can you suspect that someone has a hearing problem?
When a person does not react to the sound stimulus. They are not able to comprehend others speech, they ask others to speak loudly and even ask them to repeat what they said.

What can I do to keep my ears clean?
Ears are self cleaning organs and do not require any kind of active cleaning. It is advisable to clean the ears only from outside. Do not insert any kind of object to clean your ears, until prescribed by the doctor.

Can I use traditional remedies in case of ear problems?
No. It can cause damage to ear drum, thereby causing serious ear infections.

I am a music lover and I am addicted to listening music through earphones, is it harmful?
The risk of hearing loss increases if the music is loud and is played for long duration. Continuous exposure to loud sound can damage hearing. It is advisable to play the music at low volume with breaks in case you are using earphones.

When should I consult the doctor in case of an ear problem?
In case you feel:

• Pain in the ear,
• Notice some discharge from the ear or
• Incur hearing loss, you should immediately consult the doctor

How should I communicate with a person who is suffering from a hearing defect?
Sign language facilitates communication with deaf people. There are various institutes which offer courses in sign language to cover the gap of communication between deaf and a person who can hear.
 

As per WHO, some facts about Deafness:

• Chronic ear infections are the major cause of hearing loss.
• Noise is one of the main avoidable causes of hearing loss.
• Sign language helps to facilitate communication with deaf people.
• 50% of hearing loss is preventable through public health activities like immunization; healthy ear and hearing care habits.
• Up to 5 of every 1000 infants are born with or eventually develop disabling hearing loss in early childhood.

Causes of Deafness:

• Infections including ear infection, meningitis etc.
• Ageing
• Earwax build-up
• Occupational  hazards  ( those who are working in  noisy areas)
• Trauma
• Heredity
• Certain medicines
• Ear disease
• Long-term exposure to loud noise

Tips to prevent hearing loss:

• Avoid inserting sharp objects in the ear
• Avoid noisy places
• Turn down the volume of TV, stereo, especially the headset on the music player
• Do not use any kind of oil or liquid into your ears unless advised by a doctor
• Never go to road side quacks/unqualified person for your ear cleaning
• Consult your doctor at earliest if you feel there is any problem with your hearing.
• Do not ignore pain in the ear as it can be some serious infection.
• Avoid swimming/bathing in dirty water as it can lead to ear infections.

References:

http://www.who.int/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre
IEC Material
http://www.soundhearing2030.org