To avoid hearing problems, specialists recommended preventive consultations and taking "rest periods" when using headphones.
These ailments are among the most common in the population, since it is estimated that around 1,500 million people will have some type of hearing loss
throughout
their lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
World Hearing Day is celebrated on March 3 and the WHO aims this year to highlight the importance of integrating ear and hearing care into primary care, since it estimates that more than 60% of cases can be identified and addressed at a primary care level.
The latest World Hearing Report published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that more than 1.5 billion people will have some type of hearing loss, of which at least 430 million will need attention.
A large part of the population will have hearing problems.
Photo Qualcomm.
According to a survey by the Hospital de Clínicas, 84% of those consulted said that noise impacts their general quality of life, 87% assured that it affects their mood and state of mind and 73% on their physical health, and remarked that it It is a growing problem that is replicated in all the cities of the country with high urbanization and population rate.
In the city of Buenos Aires, for example, 8 out of 10 porteños reported having suffered some adverse effect due to noise and having had to interrupt some daily activity due to annoying noise.
"We must take care of our hearing when exposed to intense noise and for a long time" to maintain good hearing health, Natalia Ippolito, a speech therapist at the Hospital de Clínicas, told Télam.
The specialist pointed out that the use of headphones represents a concern, as well as the high intensities of sounds to which we are exposed in bars, nightclubs and recreational places in general.
The WHO estimates that more than
1 billion adolescents
and young people are at risk of permanent hearing loss, often without realizing it, by listening to loud music for prolonged periods.
In this sense, Leslie Nicolau, a doctor from the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Posadas Hospital, pointed out that, to use headphones, it is advisable not to exceed between
50% and 60% of the total volume
, try not to be in an environment with many different sounds at the same time and, most importantly, take rest periods.
"If you use the phone or a stereo for an hour, it's important to be able to take at least 10 minutes to rest your ears," he said.
high intensity sound
It is important not to listen to music at full volume.
Apple photo.
Another care contemplates not introducing foreign elements into the ear (such as swabs) since that organ is protected by the eardrum whose integrity also protects the rest of the inner ear.
Hearing conditions may cause ringing in the ears, a "busy" or "clogged" feeling, decreased hearing sensitivity, fatigue, disturbed sleep, or irritability.
"In young children, language and learning disorders can be indicators of hearing problems," said Nicolau, who indicated that in people over 50 years of age, alterations in language comprehension "require an audiological examination considering the possibility of hearing loss ", which is the name that specialists give to hearing loss.
In addition to the 1.16 billion people with mild hearing loss, the WHO estimates that some 400 million have moderate to severe hearing loss and nearly
30 million
have profound or complete hearing loss in both ears.
"Strict control of the pregnancy is very important to avoid infections and situations that could favor the child to manifest hearing loss, or require a premature delivery, which add factors that could affect hearing in the long term," said Santiago Alberto Arauz , of the Arauz Ear Nose and Throat Institute.
The hearing pathway is influenced by genetic characteristics and biological (such as health disorders or diseases), behavioral (such as lifestyles), and environmental factors.
Arauz indicated that annual controls should be carried out in early childhood and from the age of 60, and in the intermediate population he recommends a control every two or three years, except for those who have a family history of hearing loss or diseases such as otosclerosis and chronic otitis media. .
The tests done to detect hearing loss or the degree of hearing loss "are not invasive," so they can be done in children and adults, Nicolau said.
"There are initial tests that are done in the office and, depending on the type of diagnostic suspicion, they become more complex. They are easily accessible studies that are available to the entire population," he concluded.
With information from Telam
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