Hearing Loss: The Silent Epidemic in Singapore

Any hearing deficit is often referring to as hearing loss. One or both ears may be affecting, and the severity of the condition can range from slight to profound. Also susceptible is everyone, regardless of age. This is why many elderly people in Singapore are starting to wear hearing aids Singapore, because they effectively help them with their daily communication. 

 

Hearing loss may be dismiss a regular aspect of ageing, but it is more frequent than we would realise. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), 466 million individuals worldwide have hearing loss that is severe enough to be incapacitating. Closer to home, 360,000 Singaporeans, or 1 in 11, are thought to have hearing loss.

 

The most concerning of the many causes of hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss (NHL). This might be brought on by prolonged exposure to loud noises, with loud music coming from your headphones and workplace machines being the main offenders. According to the WHO, exposure to loud recreational sounds like rock concerts and music festivals, as well as extended durations of listening to music played loudly through headphones, puts 1.1 billion young individuals (aged 12 to 35) at risk of developing NHL.

 

How does hearing loss affect an individual?

 

Hearing loss will undoubtedly significantly impact a person’s quality of life, especially if they cannot hear their loved ones talk. 

 

The primary area of worry when it comes to youngsters is their capacity to communicate and develop their speech and language. Other emotional and psychological effects include low self-esteem, feelings of social isolation, frustration, and embarrassment. Additionally, it has a sizable economic impact because of the loss of work productivity caused by concentration and communication issues.

 

Typical reasons for hearing loss 

 

Numerous factors can lead to hearing loss, roughly categorised as congenital (occurs at birth) or caused by outside factors (acquired). 

 

Congenital conditions 

 

Due to circumstances impacting the infant during pregnancy or delivery, they happen at birth or are acquired shortly after birth. Examples comprise: 

 

• Pregnancy-related maternal illnesses, such as syphilis or rubella 
• Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby is born without enough oxygen due to pregnancy-related problems or birth-related medications.

 

Acquired causes

 

These speak about hearing loss, which can happen at any age. Examples comprise: 

 

• Infections such as measles, mumps, and meningitis
• Frequent or chronic ear infections
• Use of certain medicines
• Head or ear injury
• Exposure to loud noise(s)
• Ageing
• Cancers (e.g. nasopharyngeal cancer)
• Radiation therapy for cancer targeting the head and ear

 

Noise-induced hearing loss (NHL): How loud is too loud?

 

Decibels, a unit used to quantify noise level (dB). At 0 dB, sounds are audible to humans (hearing threshold). The point of discomfort is reached at 110 dB, while intensities of 130 dB or above can result in severe hearing loss (threshold of pain).

 

To put things in context, traffic is around 80dB, whereas a typical discussion occurs at about 60dB. Loud noises, like the music at a nightclub, can go as loud as 120dB. Sound levels of 70 dB or less are considered safe, but noises of 85 dB or above may gradually damage hearing and necessitate implementing a workplace hearing protection programme.

 

The growing usage of headphones and earbuds raises concerns for NHL. This includes youngsters who are more and more reliant on these devices for play, learning, and employment. NHL is influenced by exposure time and sound strength (music loudness). The loudest volume of music heard through headphones may reach 94 to 100 dB, and prolonged exposure to loud noise raises the risk of hearing loss. 

 

If you are exposed to 85 dB for a few hours, 100 dB for 14 minutes, or 110 dB for 2 minutes, your ears might sustain long-term damage.

 

How to spot hearing loss 

 

Early detection and management of hearing loss are crucial components in dealing with the problem. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting a hearing test and a professional assessment. 

 

Observe the following indications: 

• When someone is speaking to you, it sounds like they are mumbling, and you can’t make out every word. 
• You repeatedly request that someone repeat themselves 
• You must pay close attention to hear speech. 
• You have trouble hearing someone in loud settings like a restaurant or party. 
• having to increase the radio or television’s volume 
• you’re criticised for speaking loudly
• a continuous buzzing or ringing in your ears 
• One must squint to hear someone speak 
• having to rely on lipreading to understand what others are saying 

 

Young children may also have slowed speech development or do poorly in school. Young kids with undiagnosed hearing loss may develop behavioural issues, such as growing more reclusive. On the other hand, they could ‘act up’ more frequently to get attention. Additionally, they could poke their fingers in their ears or give them a persistent tug.

 

How is hearing loss avoided? 

 

Most hearing loss may be avoided by addressing its underlying causes, such as decreasing exposure to loud noises, seeking ENT (otorhinolaryngology) treatment for persistent ear infections, or avoiding certain medications. NHL fits into this as well. 

 

Advice for avoiding NHL 

 

• especially when wearing headphones, reduce the volume 
• Wear ear protection, such as ear plugs, when there are loud noises. 
• Reduce your exposure to loud noises 
• Recognize any alterations in your hearing.

 

Managing hearing loss

 

There are several approaches to identifying hearing loss and then treating it. An ENT expert will be crucial in controlling the illness at this point by first providing a precise diagnosis and then outlining an appropriate course of action. These are some of the approaches the expert will use.

 

Hearing tests

 

These tests, carried out by an audiologist or an ENT expert, establish the kind and degree of hearing loss experienced. Hearing exams include, for instance: 

 

• Acoustic reflex tests assess how the ears react to loud noises. 
• Tests for audiometry that identify the loudest sounds heard and their pitch. 
• Testing using a tuning fork to see whether hearing loss is present depending on whether it is in one or both ears 
• Speech and word recognition tests will reveal how effective communication is understood in quiet and loud settings. 
• Tympanometry examinations evaluate the mobility of the eardrums to assess their condition and to look for issues such as fluid buildup behind the eardrums. 

 

Treatment 

 

Several treatment methods depend on the kind, degree, and cause of hearing loss. These consist of the following: 

 

• Medication for ear infections and hearing loss caused by clogged ears. 
• Surgical procedure: 
  • a torn eardrum (tympanoplasty) 
  • The hearing loss brought on by fixation or malformation of the ear bone (ossiculoplasty or stapedotomy) 
  • infection- or bone-related ear canal constriction 
  • Mastoid (the skull bone behind the ear) surgical removal of harmful skin cysts and infection 
• Cochlear implants improve hearing and are surgically inserted into the ear. 
• hearing aids Singapore: More recent hearing aids Singapore are now offered, including those fixed to the mastoid bone or implanted into the ear.

 

What should you do?

 

Make an appointment with an ENT expert if you experience any of the symptoms or are exposed to any of the causes of hearing loss so that it may be appropriately identified and treated. 

 

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