Paul Adobamen, Head of Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), has advocated for hearing screening test for newborn to detect hearing loss at an early stage.
Adobamen made the call on Tuesday during the 2020 World Hearing Day with the theme, “Don’t let hearing loss limit you”, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City.
The medical doctor, who however, appealed to the federal government to incorporate hearing loss into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), noted that hearing loss is a silent handicap.
The Professor of ENTH and surgery, in a lecture titled: “Management and rehabilitation of hearing loss”, opined that early hearing screening of newborn will help in the early detention of hearing loss in advance so that treatment can commence immediately.
He identified drugs such as chloramphenicol and quinine; ageing, earpiece usage, ear trauma from domestic violence as factors that induces hearing loss.
He therefore, advised Nigerians to go for hearing checkups annually as well as patronise qualified medical practitioner for drugs and treatment when the need arises.
“Newborns need to do hearing screening with otoacoustic machine and every general hospital should have it. When we find out at that stage that the child have hearing loss, we refer to a specialist Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. That surgeon will monitor the child within the next six months, treat and intervene.
“If they are not able to correct the cause of the hearing loss, then they have to check the child often depending on the cause of the hearing loss.
“For work-related noise we expect workers to go for checkups at least twice a year,” he said.
At the event, 10 pairs of hearing aids were donated to indigent and hearing impaired persons by a South African woman, Osemwenkha Tsepo.
Tsepo said the hearing aids will help to amplify sounds thereby making impaired persons to hear well.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Eromosele Kingsley commended the donor for the gesture.
He however, pleaded with Edo state government to pass the disability bill into law and employ sign language interpreters in hospitals.
World Hearing Day is marked every March 3 to raise awareness on how to prevent hearing loss as well as promote ear and hearing care across the world.
CHURCHILL OKORO, BENIN
