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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), through the National Programme for Early Detection of Hearing Loss (NPDHL), screens more than 28,000 patients every year, a senior consultant has said, adding that the corporation’s Audiology and Balance Unit has fitted 7,209 patients with hearing aids and 303 patients with cochlear implants since its establishment in 2003.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune on Wednesday as Qatar joined the world to mark the World Hearing Day, Senior Consultant of Hearing and Balance Disorders and Director of the Audiology and Balance Unit at HMC Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi said, “We currently have a geriatric clinic to cover the elderly patient that are referred to our department.”
Dr Hadi said that the NPEDHL, through which newborns are screened in Qatar, was started for early detection and intervention to avoid the handicap of hearing.
He said their new development is enhancing the protocol of the NPEDHL and expanding screening services into the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres.
“The change to the programme is to have a one stage screening instead of two. In place of testing the babies twice - first after birth before hospital discharge and second at two to three months of age with one physiological test (OAE), it has been changed to one test at two to three months of age with the first vaccination with two physiological tests (OAE and AABR),” he said.
He added that this test is conducted along with the first vaccination in the PHCC health centres.
“Currently, we have expanded to three health centre - Leabaib, Thumama and Rawdat Al Khail - with the aim to expand to additional four health centres in the upcoming month and all major health centres by next year,” he said.
According to him, currently, the Audiology and Balance Unit offers 11 main services - General audiology service, Dizzy clinic, Vestibular and balance Rehabilitation Clinic, Ototoxicity Clinic, Geriatric clinic, Tinnitus Clinic, Hearing aid fitting, Paediatric Clinic, Cochlear Implant clinic, audio-verbal therapy and the NPEDHL.
Talking about the causes hearing loss, Dr Hadi said, “Hearing loss is caused by many factors as there are three types of hearing loss — sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss, most frequently caused by natural aging or exposure to loud noise.” According to him, other causes of hearing loss are congenital, genetics, virus or disease, ototoxicity, head trauma, diabetes, stroke, Ménière’s disease (a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance), acoustic tumours, smoking and hypertension.
To prevent hearing loss, Dr Hadi urged people to avoid loud noises, reduce time spent in noisy areas, avoid wearing earphone or headsets for long periods of time and when in use to put it on a safe volume level.
He also advised people to wear hearing protection gear when around loud sounds, especially for those who work in the industry sector, stop smoking and check medications that can cause hearing risks.
HMC joined international activities to mark the World Hearing Day (WHD) by organizing virtual event aimed at raising awareness of hearing loss, how to prevent it and reduce its impact.
World Hearing Day, which falls on every March 3, raises awareness of hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis to prevent complications as well as support for people living with hearing loss.
The global theme for 2021 is ‘Hearing care for All! Screen, Rehabilitate and Communicate; for a global call for action to address hearing loss and ear diseases across the life course’.
This year’s focus will be on education and raising awareness in order to achieve maximum benefit for patients and the community; efforts that are required to stem the rise through appropriate preventive action; need to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to the required rehabilitation services and the communication tools and products they require.
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), through the National Programme for Early Detection of Hearing Loss (NPDHL), screens more than 28,000 patients every year, a senior consultant has said, adding that the corporation’s Audiology and Balance Unit has fitted 7,209 patients with hearing aids and 303 patients with cochlear implants since its establishment in 2003.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune on Wednesday as Qatar joined the world to mark the World Hearing Day, Senior Consultant of Hearing and Balance Disorders and Director of the Audiology and Balance Unit at HMC Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi said, “We currently have a geriatric clinic to cover the elderly patient that are referred to our department.”
Dr Hadi said that the NPEDHL, through which newborns are screened in Qatar, was started for early detection and intervention to avoid the handicap of hearing.
He said their new development is enhancing the protocol of the NPEDHL and expanding screening services into the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres.
“The change to the programme is to have a one stage screening instead of two. In place of testing the babies twice - first after birth before hospital discharge and second at two to three months of age with one physiological test (OAE), it has been changed to one test at two to three months of age with the first vaccination with two physiological tests (OAE and AABR),” he said.
He added that this test is conducted along with the first vaccination in the PHCC health centres.
“Currently, we have expanded to three health centre - Leabaib, Thumama and Rawdat Al Khail - with the aim to expand to additional four health centres in the upcoming month and all major health centres by next year,” he said.
According to him, currently, the Audiology and Balance Unit offers 11 main services - General audiology service, Dizzy clinic, Vestibular and balance Rehabilitation Clinic, Ototoxicity Clinic, Geriatric clinic, Tinnitus Clinic, Hearing aid fitting, Paediatric Clinic, Cochlear Implant clinic, audio-verbal therapy and the NPEDHL.
Talking about the causes hearing loss, Dr Hadi said, “Hearing loss is caused by many factors as there are three types of hearing loss — sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss, most frequently caused by natural aging or exposure to loud noise.” According to him, other causes of hearing loss are congenital, genetics, virus or disease, ototoxicity, head trauma, diabetes, stroke, Ménière’s disease (a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance), acoustic tumours, smoking and hypertension.
To prevent hearing loss, Dr Hadi urged people to avoid loud noises, reduce time spent in noisy areas, avoid wearing earphone or headsets for long periods of time and when in use to put it on a safe volume level.
He also advised people to wear hearing protection gear when around loud sounds, especially for those who work in the industry sector, stop smoking and check medications that can cause hearing risks.
HMC joined international activities to mark the World Hearing Day (WHD) by organizing virtual event aimed at raising awareness of hearing loss, how to prevent it and reduce its impact.
World Hearing Day, which falls on every March 3, raises awareness of hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis to prevent complications as well as support for people living with hearing loss.
The global theme for 2021 is ‘Hearing care for All! Screen, Rehabilitate and Communicate; for a global call for action to address hearing loss and ear diseases across the life course’.
This year’s focus will be on education and raising awareness in order to achieve maximum benefit for patients and the community; efforts that are required to stem the rise through appropriate preventive action; need to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to the required rehabilitation services and the communication tools and products they require.
