World Day of the Deaf is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September. This year it will be celebrated on 25th 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:
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:
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:
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:
Causes of Deafness:
Tips to prevent hearing loss:
References:
http://www.who.int/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre
IEC Material
http://www.soundhearing2030.org