By Ng Jing Yng , TODAY | Posted:
12 November 2010 1115 hrs
SINGAPORE - Being hard of hearing is no longer only
an affliction of the elderly. More younger people, particularly
men, are also being affected by the problem these days.
Statistics from the Changi General Hospital (CGH) show that 40 per
cent of those diagnosed with hearing loss are younger than 40 years
old.
This figure is a two-fold jump from what CGH was seeing five to
eight years ago.
Dr Yuen Heng Wai, a consultant otolaryngologist at CGH, explaining
this trend, said males - more so than females - are more frequently
exposed to noise such as that at night outlets and from audio
devices.
Acknowledging that higher awareness of the issue could contribute
to the figures, Dr Yuen is, however, more concerned about getting
youth to seek treatment.
"To them it is a big blow ... as hearing loss has always been
associated with old age ... they feel they have become less
complete (and stigmatised)," said Dr Yuen.
To make matters worse, these hearing-impaired youths are resisting
the use of hearing aids.
At Raffles Hospital, one to two young men - between the ages of 15
and 30 - are seen every week for the treatment of hearing
difficulties.
The hospital's specialist in ENT surgery, Dr Stephen Lee, noted
that "there has been a perceptible increase" over the past two
years. He recommends that those who use audio devices go for a test
at least once to check if their hearing ability has been
affected.
Engaging in water sports is another emerging cause.
Bacteria in dirty water stays in the ear and causes discomfort,
said Dr Yuen of CGH. When patients try to ease the discomfort by
"sticking all sorts of things" into their ears, the situation
worsens.
In the past year alone, he has seen more than 10 patients who have
experienced hearing problems after swimming in places like the
Kallang River and the sea off Batam Island.
There is also the need for regulation of working conditions in
sectors such as the construction industry, suggested Dr Raymond
Ngo, consultant at the National University Hospital's Department of
Otolaryngology. He cited his concern over young construction
workers and their constant exposure to excessive levels of loud
noise.
But, fortunately, only a few of the afflicted have suffered total
irreversible hearing loss as most recover partial or full hearing
capacity after treatment.
One safety guideline for those who could suffer impaired hearing
would be to seek treatment if they experience difficulty in
understanding what others are saying or having to ask them to
repeat themselves, said Associate Professor Low Wong Kein, director
of the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants at Singapore General
Hospital.
- TODAY/rl