Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists are calling for early detection and improved access to treatment to address the growing burden of hearing loss among children in Ghana.
Speaking on the health segment of the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (5 March), specialist ENT surgeon Kwabena Agyenim Boateng and consultant ENT surgeon and Head of the ENT Unit at the University of Ghana Medical School, Kafui Searyoh, said many cases of childhood hearing loss in the country go undetected, leading to long-term consequences for affected children.
They also raised concerns about the high cost of hearing aids and cochlear implants, partly due to taxes on the medical devices, which makes them unaffordable for many families.
“We would be very glad if the tax element on hearing aids could be completely removed so that even the poor can afford them,” Dr Searyoh said.
The experts also called for the introduction of newborn hearing screening programmes across the country to help identify hearing problems within the first two years of life, when intervention is most effective.
The discussion, hosted by physician Teddy Totimeh, was held in commemoration of World Hearing Day, which this year places special emphasis on children.
Dr Searyoh explained that identifying hearing problems early is critical to preventing permanent impairment.
“If you catch them young, you are likely to get it right. Once the hearing loss goes undetected and you lose the window of opportunity to correct it, the child may permanently lose their hearing,” he said.
According to the specialists, hearing loss is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana, where limited resources make diagnosis and treatment difficult.
Dr Boateng noted that about 60% of conditions leading to hearing loss are preventable, stressing the importance of awareness and early screening.
He added that hearing impairment in children is often mistaken for poor academic performance.
“Many children in schools are graded as poor performers in class, but the child may actually be very bright. The problem may simply be that the child cannot hear the teacher,” he said.
Common causes of hearing loss among children include infections, complications during birth, prolonged stay in neonatal intensive care units, and diseases such as measles, meningitis and mumps.
Dr Boateng also warned that certain medications and untreated ear infections could contribute to hearing impairment.
The specialists further highlighted the shortage of ENT professionals in the country, estimating that Ghana has about 30 ENT surgeons nationwide, alongside a limited number of audiologists and speech therapists.
They further urged the public to reduce exposure to excessive noise levels at social gatherings such as churches, funerals and parties, warning that sounds above 80–85 decibels can damage hearing over time.
As part of the programme, the host observed a brief moment of silence on air to symbolically represent how people with hearing impairments experience radio.
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