Introduction
As per WHO, hearing impairment is the inability to hear as well as someone with normal hearing. Hearing impaired people can be hard of hearing (HOH) or deaf. If a person cannot hear at all, then they have deafness.
Hearing impairment may be inherited, or caused by diseases like maternal rubella or complications at birth, certain infectious diseases such as meningitis, use of ototoxic drugs, exposure to excessive noise and ageing.
Impact of hearing loss
Functional impact
One of the main impacts of hearing loss is on the individual’s inability to converse with others. Children with hearing loss often suffer in spoken language development .
Hearing loss and ear diseases such as otitis media can have a significantly adverse effect on the educational routine of children. However, If people suffering from hearing loss are provided a chance to communicate they can participate on an equal footing with others.
The communication can be through spoken/ written language or through sign language.
Social and emotional impact
Restricted access to communicate can have a significant impact on everyday life, causing feelings of solitude, seclusion and dissatisfaction, particularly among older people with hearing loss.
Economic impact
In developing countries, children with impaired hearing or deafness rarely receive any schooling. Adults with hearing loss are also subjected to higher unemployment rate. Among those who are employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are in the lower grades of employment compared with the general workforce.
- PUBLISHED DATE : Apr 06, 2015
- PUBLISHED BY : NHP CC DC
- CREATED / VALIDATED BY : NHP Admin
- LAST UPDATED BY : Apr 07, 2015
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