Ear care: How you can keep your hearing sharp in a noisy world

How well can you hear a murmur across a distance the length of a football field? Nowadays, many Kenyans are experiencing hearing loss at a young age.

Doctors warn that discos, live concerts, use of earphones and exposure to loud noise in public service vehicles (PSV) are dampening our hearing.

Dr David Musyoka, a consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, says of concern is the younger generation staring at premature deafness and ringing in the ears due to exposure to damaging levels of noise for hours.

A majority of Kenyan youth are constantly wearing low-quality headphones or earphones, using noisy PSVs and regularly go to live concerts, nightclubs and sporting events.

The World Health Organisation estimates that about 1.1 billion young people (aged between 12–35 years) are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings.

‘‘The loud noise damages the hair cells in the inner ear, causing trauma. If the noise is frequent it impairs hearing,’’ says Dr Musyoka .

After going to a disco, most people hear a ringing sound in the ear.

‘‘This condition called tinnitus is a trauma of the delicate cells inside your ear,’’ he adds.

But in silence, the ear recovers until the next time one is in a noisy place. If the cells are traumatised again and again, they get damaged, leading to noise-induced ear loss.

The ENT specialist forecasts that in future, more people will have hearing loss because currently only a few hear clearly.

A study done on some African men living far away from loud traffic and amplified music in 1950s showed that those in their 70s could hear sounds as faint as a murmur across a distance the length of a football field. But nowadays, few hear a baby’s coo in a room next door, unless it is a wail.

These days, even children wear headphones marketed as ‘‘safe for young ears.’’ An analysis done in US recently showed that the ‘‘safe’’ headphones do not restrict volume to the promised limit and some produced sound so loud that it could harm a child’s ear within minutes.

Audiologists argue that headphone manufacturers are not interested in protection of children’s ears, but to increase sales.

Dr Musyoka says because it hard to monitor the volume, one should discourage children from using headphones.

Adult users say even though they would like to invest in volume-limiting headphones, they are not easily available.

‘‘The biggest problem is where to get quality earphones. Even when you have money to buy, where do you get them? Most shops in Nairobi sell fakes that spoil the ears,’’ shares Justus Wesonga who listens to music during his morning jog.

Dr Musyoka advises that if one must use headphones, the volume should be regulated, and regular breaks taken to allow the tiny hair cells in the ear to recover. In a noisy workplace, he says, it’s prudent to wear protective earwear.

‘‘Avoid noisy matatus and choose one that doesn’t blast music. Also control noise in places of worship. For instance, don’t sit close to speakers in a church,’’ he says.

In children, if they experience ringing-ears or always request to increase the volume beyond the comfort of others, the ENT specialist says one should consult a specialist. Impaired hearing in children can also be caused by infections such as meningitis, exposure to toxins or if the mother had rubella or syphilis during pregnancy.

People with hearing loss can benefit from the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants.

A cochlear surgery and therapy costs an upward of Sh3 million for one year. The treatment that is locally available involves implanting an electronic device to restore hearing.

‘‘Kenyans don’t have to go to India for cochlear implants. Some patients come back with useless implants. There is a lot involved in terms of rehabilitation to train the ear after the surgery. Not many can afford to travel back-and-forth to India. In Kenya, an audiologist can easily switch on the device and adjust frequencies,’’ Dr Musyoka said.