| James Kon |
A TOTAL of 290 new cases of hearing loss problem were identified in Brunei Darussalam in 2017.
Four of those were newborn infants, while 32 were children between one and 14 years. At the same time, 121 cases were detected among individuals between 15 and 64 years, with 133 occurring among senior citizens aged 65 and above.
The worrying statistics were highlighted by Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Jaafar, the Minister of Health, during the launching of the roadshow to mark World Hearing Day 2018, at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday.
The event was organised by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, under the Ministry of Health (MoH).
World Hearing Day is celebrated annually on March 3, to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, in addition to promoting ear and hearing care across the world.
This year’s World Hearing Day celebration is themed ‘Hear the Future, Prepare For It’.
The minister said, “Among the challenges faced by individuals who have hearing loss problems and their families is the lack of awareness on issues related to hearing. These issues are the causes of hearing loss or impairment, issues of treatment, access to rehabilitation, access to education and related issues with the integration of those affected by their hearing into society.
“To address the issues, the MoH, in cooperation with government and private agencies, has taken on initiatives such as celebrating World Hearing Day that falls on March 3 every year in a united effort to support the World Health Organization to raise awareness on measures to prevent hearing loss, and also to promote ear care and hearing.”
The MoH, he said, “plays a vital role in the early prevention of deafness and hearing loss through early detection. The ministry’s healthcare framework provides an easy-to-access and effective antenatal care for all pregnant women, to prevent complications at birth and prevent hearing loss.”
Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham emphasised the need for early detection of congenital deafness and hearing loss in newborns, through a hearing examination programme.
“Alhamdulillah, the programme was further strengthened by 2015, with the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (UNHSP), which involved the universal examination of all newborn babies in the country, and not only those at risk of hearing loss,” he said.
“The UNHSP has enabled newborns with hearing loss to undergo treatment or early rehabilitation programmes, in addition to receiving hearing aid in time.
“Alhamdulillah, since 2016, the programme has successfully identified 19 newborn babies who have significant hearing loss problems.”
In addressing hearing loss problems among primary schoolchildren, Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, “The Ear and Hearing Examination Programme has been implemented through the School Health Services under the MoH. Throughout their primary education, every child will undergo orthoscopic ear examination at the age of six, and hearing checks at the age of nine. This programme has a clear direction for children who have been diagnosed with ear and hearing problems, to gain access to specialist treatment and audiology management.”
Every child under five who has been diagnosed with hearing loss in the country will be referred to the Developmental Paediatric Service under the MoH, which plays an important role in providing access to rehabilitation, such as auditory oral therapy programmes, or sign language. The children’s development will be monitored until they reach the age of formal education, during which the subsequent management will be coordinated with the Special Education Unit at the Ministry of Education (MoE).
The minister said, “The Brunei Government has a policy in providing free access, according to criteria, to hearing aid and support services for children and adults with hearing loss problems. These include hearing rehabilitation surgery programmes such as bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) and cochlear implants.”
He said, “Awareness of hearing problems is important in changing perception, behaviour and attitudes. This is the key to the prevention of hearing loss.”
The one-day roadshow, meanwhile, featured an educational exhibition on ear screening and the prevention of hearing loss; habilitation access and support; free ear check-ups; and consultations for the prescription of hearing aid by professionals from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.
Interactive learning activities and fun educational games were also available for children.
Additionally, the Special Education Unit under the MoE; Pusat Bahagia under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; the Brunei Darussalam National Association for the Hearing-Impaired; Hear Better Services; Kidz Discovery World; and other hearing care partners also participated in the event, to share their services with the public.
Also present were Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, the Permanent Secretary at the MoH; and the deputy permanent secretaries at the MoH, as well as senior officials from the MoH, the MoE, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.