President of the Turkish Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Association, Prof. Dr. Mete Kıroğlu, “Why did we start to see hearing loss in young people and adolescents in the healthiest period of life?
President of the Turkish Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Association, Prof. Dr. Mete Kıroğlu said, “Why did we start to see hearing loss in young people and adolescents in the healthiest period of life? We think that one of the important reasons for this is related to listening to loud music with headphones. Hearing loss is developing due to using headphones. said.
A press conference was held by the Turkish Ear Nose Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Association on the occasion of “March 3, World Ear and Hearing Day”.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Dr. Kıroğlu said that many organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Turkish Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Association organized events on March 3 to draw attention to hearing impairment and to raise awareness on this issue.
Expressing that hearing and speaking are the most important ways of communication, Kıroğlu said that people cannot live without communication and that the ear is the most important organ that provides this communication.
Pointing out that people who cannot talk and get along with their environment are pushed into depression and loneliness over time, Kıroğlu stated that this is not only true for the elderly, but also for children and young people.
Pointing out that hearing impairment can be prevented, Kıroğlu said:
“A significant portion of congenital or acquired hearing loss can be prevented.
For example, loud contact can be reduced.
Normal city traffic has an average of 85 decibels (dB). The cells in our inner ear can withstand this sound for up to 8 hours, longer exposure will cause permanent damage. If we were exposed to traffic noise for 8 hours that day, we should not listen to music on the same day. Let’s increase 85 dB to 88 dB, then the allowable time is 4 hours. Our inner ear cells can withstand 91 dB for 2 hours and aircraft noise for 95 dB for 1 hour. A sound of 120 dB causes pain in our ears.
Kıroğlu pointed out that sometimes the first sign of hearing loss is tinnitus, and emphasized that in this case, it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist.
“Early diagnosis is important”
Drawing attention to the importance of early diagnosis, Kıroğlu said, “A baby with an early diagnosis is no longer deaf. We can say that deafness and muteness have become history with early diagnosis. These children are around the age of 1, with bionic ear surgery, by converting the sound in the external environment into electrical energy, by stimulating the auditory nerve, and “This technology is perhaps the most important development in the field of medicine in recent years. If the inner ear has never been developed in a child, it is possible to ensure hearing by placing an electrode directly in the auditory center in the brain stem, even if the auditory nerve is not present.” he said.
Kıroğlu said that despite the great benefits of technology to human health, it also has serious harms.
Noting that this year’s theme of World Ear and Hearing Day is “Listen to the Future”, Kıroğlu continued as follows:
“Despite the extended human lifespan, much more noise will cause our ears to age prematurely and cause hearing loss in the future.
Why do we begin to see hearing loss in young people and adolescents during the healthiest period of life? We think that one of the important reasons for this situation is related to listening to loud music with headphones. According to one study, 12.5 percent of the 6 to 19-year-olds develop hearing loss, especially due to using high-volume headphones. With the new technology, it is possible to download thousands of music every day. Compared to older cassette players, Walkmans have longer listening times.
High-quality headphones or over-ear devices, the 60/60 rule (listening longer than 60 minutes, set the maximum volume to 60 percent), not falling asleep with headphones, and ear plugging in loud environments are some of the precautions that can be taken.”
“98 percent of newborns undergo hearing screening”
Turkish Ear Nose Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Association Board Member Prof. Dr. Tayyar Kalcıoğlu said that healthy hearing is very important for social and psychological development.
Kalcıoğlu stated that the recognition of hearing loss is possible with hearing screenings performed in the newborn period and gave the following information:
” Turkey has achieved great success in this regard. At the point where the newborn hearing screening protocol application, which was initiated in 2004 under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, has reached, today, 98 percent of newborn babies in our country undergo hearing screening. This rate is similar to that of many people with a much better welfare level in the world. Thus, babies diagnosed with hearing loss can benefit from different treatment or rehabilitation applications ranging from cochlear implants to brainstem implants and prevent them from becoming hearing impaired and therefore speech impaired. that it is.”
Kalcıoğlu explained that when the hearing impairment is eliminated with interventions and treatments up to a certain age, the hearing individual will also improve his speech, “There should be no delay in treatment for this. Early, timely and on-site treatment will bring healthy development. It should not be forgotten that a baby with congenital hearing impairment needs timely diagnosis. After the treatment processes, which can go as far as rehabilitation and implantation, if necessary, they can go to the same schools with their non-hearing-impaired peers, be entitled to receive certificates of achievement in these schools, and even become the top of the class or school.
Hearing loss can develop for different reasons in the postpartum period. This hearing loss can sometimes be expressed by the child, and sometimes it can be manifested by symptoms such as turning up the volume of the television too much, not getting a response when the parent or people call, or decreasing the child’s success in school, and decreased participation in the lesson. These children, who can reflect their hearing loss in different ways, may be called incompatible, naughty, grumpy. In such cases, the possibility that the child cannot hear properly for any reason should be brought to mind, and if necessary, treatment should be sought by having the necessary examinations and examinations done.
