An online event titled "World Hearing Day" was organized by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services Audiometry Program Head Lecturer Elifnur Taşdemir Er and Audiometry Program Lecturer Ayşe Gül Elsharkawy. The event discussed the importance and history of World Hearing Day and the significance of raising awareness about hearing health. In this context, information was provided on preventive measures for hearing loss, the effects of untreated hearing loss, early diagnosis and solutions for hearing loss, and the impact of noise pollution on human health and the environment.
There was intense participation in the online event.
Lecturer Ayşe Gül Elsharkawy: “It is predicted that one in ten people will need hearing rehabilitation”
Lecturer Ayşe Gül Elsharkawy of the Audiometry Program, pointing out that children with hearing loss in developing countries often cannot attend school, said: “Every year, March 3rd is celebrated as World Hearing Day worldwide. This day, celebrated as International Ear Care Day in 2007, was revised and named World Hearing Day in 2016. According to the World Health Organization, this year's theme was determined as ‘Changing mindsets: Let's make ear and hearing care a reality for everyone!’ To make it a memorable day, March 3rd was chosen as the date because the numbers ‘3.3’ resemble a pair of ears. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 466 million people worldwide, including 34 million children, experience hearing loss. By 2050, approximately 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million people (one in ten) will require hearing rehabilitation. More than 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. When hearing loss is left untreated, its effects are observed in areas such as communication and speech, cognitive level, education and employment, social isolation, loneliness and stigmatization, society, and the economy. Unfortunately, in developing countries, children with hearing loss often cannot attend school. We also see that the unemployment rate is very high among adults with hearing loss.”
“Early diagnosis of ear diseases is actually the key to effective management”
Elsharkawy noted that effective strategies can be implemented to reduce hearing loss at different stages of life: “Well-planned maternal and child care practices, genetic counseling, occupational hearing protection programs regarding exposure to noise and chemical substances, safe listening strategies to reduce exposure to loud sounds in recreational environments, and rational use of medications to prevent ototoxic hearing loss are some of these. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and ear diseases is actually the key to effective management. In this regard, newborn hearing screenings, as well as preschool and school-age hearing screenings, are very important. Furthermore, it is possible to detect hearing loss through systematic screenings for individuals exposed to noise or chemicals at work, those taking ototoxic medications, and older adults.” she said.
“The biggest misconception is that hearing aids are solutions that eliminate the problem, like glasses”
Elsharkawy, mentioning that auditory rehabilitation may be necessary under a specific plan after starting to use hearing aids, said: “Hearing aids alone are not sufficient for individuals to understand what is being said by staff in crowded and noisy environments. In this regard, auditory rehabilitation may be required under a specific plan after starting to use hearing aids. Additionally, supportive solutions, such as an ‘ID system,’ may be needed for disabled individuals to adapt to life and society. In developed countries, ID systems are widely used and considered an indispensable part of building construction regulations. You can see ID systems in many places, from cinemas to concert halls, from corporate meeting rooms to school classrooms. A telecoil, a small wire wrapped around a rod inside hearing aids, acts as an antenna to receive magnetic signals and transmits them as sound to the hearing aid. With the ‘T setting,’ the hearing aid can directly transmit the speaker's voice or concert music to the ear without any background noise. It is a pleasing situation for people with hearing impairments to see ID systems in various places in our country (e.g., theater halls, mosques, markets, corporate buildings, banks, and hospitals). Seeing them being able to easily participate in life with such systems also makes us happy.”
Lecturer Elifnur Taşdemir Er: “Awareness-raising training on the dangers of noise pollution can be provided”
Lecturer Elifnur Taşdemir Er, Head of the Audiometry Program at the Vocational School of Health Services, underlined the negative effects of loud environments on hearing health: “When you go to a wedding or a concert, especially if you stood next to the speaker, you might experience a hum or some ringing when you leave that venue, especially in the quiet of the night. However, after resting for a while, spending hours in a quiet environment, for example, when you wake up the next morning, you might notice that your hearing has returned to normal. In the science of Audiology, we refer to this as ‘temporary threshold shift.’ If hearing loss is detected during exposure to high-intensity sound, a slight worsening of the threshold shift may be observed. There is a possibility of it returning to its previous state, depending on the intensity and duration of the sound you were exposed to for a certain period. However, if this exposure is higher than the safe intensity level and lasts for hours, days, or months, this now means permanent threshold shift. So, what needs to be done about this? It actually requires a multifaceted approach involving environmental and personal interventions. Therefore, noise-reducing technologies, environmental adjustment, or individual protection are necessary. In occupational and urban environments, such initiatives can help reduce noise levels, and if we talk about individual protection, personal protective equipment like earplugs or headphones play a role in providing necessary protection in high-intensity places. Awareness-raising training sessions on the dangers of noise pollution can also be given to the public and to individuals working in noisy environments, and their impact can be enhanced through awareness campaigns.” she stated.
The event concluded after answering participants' questions.