NANDI JOINS REST OF THE WORLD IN MARKING WORLD HEARING DAY
The County Department of Health and Sanitation celebrated World Hearing Day under the theme ‘HEAR FOR LIFE, LISTEN WITH CARE.’
This year’s theme emphasizes the significance of safe listening in maintaining good hearing throughout life based on recommendations.
This year’s celebration highlights the importance of preventing hearing loss by using “Safe Listening” techniques to maintain good hearing health for life. It also aims at raising awareness of hearing loss risks and the importance of early diagnosis to prevent complications and support people with hearing loss.
World Hearing Day shines a light on the importance of hearing loss issues. This year’s theme embraces everyone living with a hearing loss and recognizes that no one should live with unaddressed and under-served hearing loss.
Early identification of hearing loss is crucial, along with rehabilitation and access to human and technology supports including hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening amplification devices, and text-based interpreting.
Speaking at the event held at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, the County Director for Health Dr. David Bungei said, “Many common causes of hearing loss can be prevented. Hearing loss has potentially devastating consequences for mental health, education and employment. But it is possible to enjoy good hearing across the course of life through preventive measures, especially hearing loss caused by exposure to loud sounds.”
‘Safe Listening’ can mitigate the risk of hearing loss associated with recreational sound exposure. Some of “Safe Listening” tips include keeping the volume at a maximum level of 60%; using carefully fitted and noise cancelling headphones; protect ears from loud sounds by wearing earplugs in noisy environments; avoiding loud sound sources, such as loudspeakers; minimizing exposure to noisy activities and taking short listening breaks away from loud sounds; limiting the daily use of personal audio devices; monitoring listening levels by using smartphone apps which measure sound exposure; and using listening devices with built-in “Safe Listening” features.”
Data shows that more than 600,000 Kenyans cannot hear properly and many more might lose their sense of hearing due to extremely noise-polluted environments in their work place and in public transport vehicles that play loud music in spite of prohibitive laws.
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