Wednesday 26 November 2014

CAN DEAFNESS BE PREVENTED?


CAN DEAFNESS BE PREVENTED?                                      

Yes if action is taken early. In some cases the negative impact can be reduced.
Some ways to help prevent deafness or the impact is:


  • Knowing about the problem early and seeking help.
  • Hearing testing by a qualified hearing specialist.
  • Early medical treatment of ear disease especially painful ears and ears with pus coming out.
  • Not taking medicine that is not given by a doctor.
  • Avoid loud noises and injuries to the head.
  • Young babies should be immunized against diseases.
  • Good nutrition and healthy environment for children.
  • Fitting hearing aids that work efficiently by a qualified hearing health professional(Audiologist). 

 DO HEARING AIDS REALLY HELP CHILDREN TO HEAR?

Professionally fitted hearing aids with good diagnosis and follow up will improve the child's communication to "near normal" depending on the degree of hearing problem, the time it was detected and the cooperation of the family members and hearing specialist.

          How do they help?

  There are four types of hearing aids. Those worn on the body; placed behind the ear; those in the ear and others are inserted deep into the ear. They all work by making sounds louder and clearer. Some types of hearing aids can selectively keep off unwanted noise from getting into the ear and also pick up the wanted sounds and process them so that they are not only louder but also clearer. When this is accomplished the young baby can hear himself and receive sounds and speech in such a way as to develop language and speech. However this will develop much slowly than a normal hearing child but may eventually "catch up".
   A child fitted early with a hearing aid can join a regular school(depending on the degree of loss) and cope with education with little or no additional support.
   Youths are able to restore or retain relationships as they are able to participate in group interactions when the have a hearing aid.
   The older person is able to interact with his/her family in a more meaningful way thereby improving on family interactions and relationships.
   For the hearing impaired, life makes sense when sounds are easily identified with meanings attached to them and communication through speech flows unhindered due to efficient and effective hearing aids and other related appliances.
   

Do hearing Aids restore hearing to levels of normal hearing person?

Unfortunately not. However, hearing is brought close to normal. The gap is reduced by learning to observe the face and attach meanings to words that are not clear. For children who do not develop speech, speech training is usually done by a speech therapist. The older adult who looses hearing after speech is developed needs retraining and speech therapy





www.superacoustics.kbo.co.ke


 CHALLENGES FACING PARENTS OF THE DEAF IN KENYA TODAY
The following are the challenges facing parents of Deaf children in Kenya

a) Access to information about deafness.
b) Access to services (e.g. educational, medical, auditory rehabilitation, assessment                              services).
c) How to cope with the effects of the emotional and social effects of deafness.
d) How to communicate with own deaf child.
e) How to help a deaf child to grow up normally like any other child.

MODE OF COMMUNICATION USED BY THE DEAF.

  • Body Language e.g. Head movement, Gestures, Body posture etc
  • Natural Signs e.g. Fat, Drink, Cut etc
  • Lipreading
  • Writing and Reading e.g. 2 people exchanging writing papers.
  • Speech supported with Signs
  • Signs supported with speech 
  • Simultaneous Communication
  • Kenya Sign Language

Friday 21 November 2014

DEAFNESS

 What is deafness?
It is a disability that occurs when one is not able to hear sounds and people talking.

How can you loose your hearing?
Some children develop deafness while in the mothers womb. Others develop after being born.

What causes deafness after a child is born?
    The commonest is the conditions that might occur at or during birth e.g.

  • Premature child(weight below 1.5kgs)
  • Infections occurring during birth.
  • Injuries to the child including lack of oxygen at birth.
  • Medicine given at birth that may affect the ears.
  • Yellowness of the eyes occurring at birth and persisting 

   Conditions occurring after birth include:                           

  • Infections e.g. Measles, mumps, meningitis etc.
  • Injuries to the ear and head.
  • Too much noise in the ears.
  • Family (inherited) deafness.
  • Infections of the ear. 
Does deafness occur in the same degree to all deaf people?
  • Some people have only a slight hearing problem, others have a greater one and others cannot hear unless shouted to or even not at all.
  • Sometimes one ear is affected alone.
How can you tell that someone has a hearing problem?
  • They keep requesting you to repeat.
  • Keenly looking at your face.
  • Making mistakes when answering back.
  • Not actively participating in group discussions.
  • Asks others not to speak too softly.
  • Not interested in group discussion.
  • Setting the TV or radio volume too high.
  • Setting the volume of the phone high and shouting while talking.
What are the bad effects of hearing problem?
  • Feeling embarrassed in a group for missing conversation.
  • Getting very tired due to strain of listening.
  • Withdrawing from group activities.
  • Friends withdrawing from the person with the problem. 
  • Frequent arguments with family over loud volume setting.
  • Loss of opportunities( Education, Business,Marriage, Employment etc)
  • High cost and prolonged management of hearing problems(Hearing Aids, speech therapy etc.)
  • Inability to develop language and speech leading to "deaf-mute" situation(in children who are deaf before developing language)
  • Low self-esteem and resulting psycho-social effects particularly depression.



Thursday 13 November 2014


PREVENTING EAR DAMAGE
Parents & Teachers


■ Monitor the noise levels to which children
are exposed. If you have to shout for a child
to hear you over his or her recreational
activities, the noise is too loud.
■ Purchase personal stereos with volume limiters.
■ Listen to toys prior to purchase. Consult
safety resources such as www.toysafety.net.
■ Ask for the volume to be lowered at video
arcades, dances and other places your
children frequent.
■ Limit the time your child spends in noisy places.
■ Provide earplugs or earmuffs sized for your
child’s ears when the noise can’t be reduced.
■ Be a good role model — use hearing
protection yourself when exposed to
hazardous noise.                                                          
■ Make sure your child’s school has a hearing
loss prevention program for music, shop
and other noisy classes.
■ Have your child’s hearing tested yearly if
they participate in noisy activities or you
suspect a change in hearing ability.

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Hearing protection.

It is the mandate of every person to protect their hearing apparatus.

How can I protect my hearing at work?

The surest method of preventing occupational deafness is to reduce noise at the source by engineering methods. However, in certain workplace conditions, there is very little or nothing one can do to reduce noise at the source. In such workplaces, workers wear hearing protectors to reduce the amount of noise reaching the ears.


What are some things I should know about selecting hearing protection devices?

People should wear a hearing protector if the noise or sound level at the workplace exceeds 85 decibels (A-weighted) or dB(A). Hearing protectors reduce the noise exposure level and the risk of hearing loss.
If hearing protection is required, then a complete hearing conservation program should be instituted. A hearing conservation program includes noise assessment, hearing protector selection, employee training and education, audiometric testing, maintenance, inspection, record keeping, and program evaluation.
The effectiveness of hearing protection is reduced greatly if the hearing protectors do not fit properly or if they are worn only part time during periods of noise exposure. To maintain their effectiveness, they should not be modified. Remember, radio headsets are not substitutes for hearing protectors and should not be worn where hearing protectors are required to protect against exposure to noise.
Select hearing protection that is:
  • Correct for the job. Refer to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z94.2-02 (Reaffirmed 2011) "Hearing Protection Devices - Performance, Selection, Care and Use" or contact the agency responsible for occupational health and safety legislation in your jurisdiction for more information.
  • Provides adequate protection. Check the manufacturer's literature.
  • Comfortable enough to be accepted and worn.


What types of hearing protectors are available?

Ear plugs are inserted to block the ear canal. They may be premolded (preformed) or moldable (foam ear plugs). Ear plugs are sold as disposable products or reusable plugs. Custom molded ear plugs are also available.




Semi-insert ear plugs which consist of two ear plugs held over the ends of the ear canal by a rigid headband.
Ear muffs consist of sound-attenuating material and soft ear cushions that fit around the ear and hard outer cups. They are held together by a head band.



How do I pick my hearing protectors?

The choice of hearing protectors is a very personal one and depends on a number of factors including level of noise, comfort, and the suitability of the hearing protector for both the worker and his environment. Most importantly, the hearing protector should provide the desired noise reduction. It is best, where protectors must be used, to provide a choice of a number of different types to choose from.
If the noise exposure is intermittent, ear muffs are more desirable, since it may be inconvenient to remove and reinsert earplugs.


How can I find out how much a hearing protector can reduce a worker's exposure to noise?

Manufacturers provide information about the noise reducing capability of a hearing protector as an NRR (noise reduction rating) number. The NRR ratings are based on noise reduction obtained in laboratory conditions.


How do I use Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) value to determine the protection provided by a hearing protector?

NIOSH recommends using subject fit data based on ANSI S12.6-1997 [or most current edition] to estimate hearing protector noise attenuation.
If subject fit data are not available, NIOSH recommends derating hearing protectors by a factor that corresponds to the available real-world data. Specifically, NIOSH recommends that the labeled NRRs be derated as follows:
  • Earmuffs - Subtract 25% from the manufacturer's labeled NRR
  • Formable earplugs - Subtract 50% from the manufacturer's labeled NRR
  • All other earplugs - Subtract 70% from the manufacturers labeled NRR
1. When the noise exposure level in dBC is known, the effective A-weighted noise level (ENL) is:
ENL [dB(A)] = Workplace noise level in dBC - derated NRR
2. When the noise exposure level in dB(A ) is known, the effective A-weighted noise level is:
ENL = Workplace noise level in dB(A) - (derated NRR -7)
There are other single number ratings available. For details refer to the Canadian Standard CSA Z94.2. Another single number rating is based on (Subject Fit) Real Ear Attenuation measurements, known as Single Number Rating (Subject Fit 84th percentile) and abbreviated as SNR (SF 84) (for details see ANSI Standard S12.6). "SF 84" indicates that 84% of the users in a well run hearing conservation program are expected to receive at least that much protection.


What is a Single Number Rating (SNR)?

An http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/ear_prot.html SNR is a single number rating system determined according to International Standard ISO 4869. The tests are carried out by commercial laboratories that are independent of the manufacturers. Like NRRs, SNRs are expressed in dB's and are used as a guide for comparing the potential noise reduction capability of different hearing protection devices. Since the procedures for measuring NRRs and SNRs are different, the NRR and SNR values for an individual hearing protector are different. For further details please refer to the Canadian Standard CSA Z94.2 or American Standard ANSI S12.6.


What are the advantages and limitations of ear plugs and ear muffs?

There are advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of either ear muffs or ear plugs.
Ear plugs can be mass-produced or individually molded to fit the ear, and they can be reusable or disposable. On the positive side, they are simple to use, less expensive than muffs, and more comfortable in hot or damp work areas. On the negative side, they provide less protection than some muffs, and should not be used in areas having noise levels over 105 dB(A) (A-weighted decibels). They are not as visible as muffs and a supervisor cannot readily check to see if workers are wearing them. They must be properly inserted to provide adequate protection.
Ear muffs can vary with respect to the material and depth of the dome, and the force of the headband. The deeper and heavier the dome, the greater the low-frequency attenuation provided by the protector. The headband must fit tightly enough to maintain a proper seal, yet not be too tight for comfort. On the positive side, ear muffs can usually provide greater protection than plugs, although this is not always true. They are easier to fit, generally more durable than plugs, and they have replaceable parts. On the negative side, they are more expensive, and often less comfortable than plugs, especially in hot work areas. In areas where noise levels are very high, muffs and plugs can be worn together to give better protection.
The following table summarizes the differences between ear plugs and ear muffs.
Comparison of Hearing Protection
Ear PlugsEar Muffs
Advantages:
  • small and easily carried
  • convenient to use with other personal protection equipment (can be worn with ear muffs)
  • more comfortable for long-term wear in hot, humid work areas
  • convenient for use in confined work areas
Advantages:
  • less attenuation variability among users
  • designed so that one size fits most head sizes
  • easily seen at a distance to assist in the monitoring of their use
  • not easily misplaced or lost
  • may be worn with minor ear infections
Disadvantages:
  • requires more time to fit
  • more difficult to insert and remove
  • require good hygiene practices
  • may irritate the ear canal
  • easily misplaced
  • more difficult to see and monitor usage
Disadvantages:
  • less portable and heavier
  • more inconvenient for use with other personal protective equipment.
  • more uncomfortable in hot, humid work area
  • more inconvenient for use in confined work areas
  • may interfere with the wearing of safety or prescription glasses: wearing glasses results in breaking the seal between the ear muff and the skin and results in decreased hearing protection.


Why is user preference so important?

The human aspects of hearing protection are particularly important since the only useful kind of protection is the protection that is actually worn. Some people do not accept particular kinds of protectors; every human being is different, and the anatomy of the ear and ear canal can vary significantly from person to person.
It is a good idea for the employer to provide a number of different types of hearing protection from which workers can choose, keeping in mind any safety or hygienic reasons for not providing a particular kind of protector. That is, a particular type of protector should not be used if noise levels are too high or if it proves to be inadequate from a hygienic point of view. For example, ear plugs which are used in a plant setting where people reuse them throughout the day, often reinserting them with dirty fingers, can introduce dirt and bacteria into the ears, causing ear infections.
The bottom line on hearing protection is worker preference. If the workers do not like the type of protection (for example, if it is uncomfortable, does not fit well, or is impractical), they will not wear it.


What should I know about the fit of my hearing protectors?

Follow manufacturers' instructions. With ear plugs, for example, the ear should be pulled outward and upward with the opposite hand to enlarge and straighten the ear canal, and insert the plug with clean hands.
  • Ensure the hearing protector tightly seals within the ear canal or against the side of the head. Hair and clothing should not be in the way.


What happens to the protection level when hearing protectors are removed for short periods of time?

In order to get full benefit, hearing protectors must be worn all the time during noisy work. If hearing protectors are removed only for a short duration, the protection is substantially reduced. The following table gives a maximum protection provided for non-continuous use of an ideally fitted "100%" efficient hearing protector. For example if one takes off his/her hearing protector for 5 min in a 8-hour shift, the maximum protection will be 20 dB.


Maximum protection provided by
non-continuous use of Hearing Protection
Percent time usedMaximum Protection
50%3 dB
60%4 dB
70%5 dB
80%7 dB
90%10 dB
95%13 dB
99%20 dB
99.9%30 dB


Ear protectors must be used ALL THE TIME to get full benefit.


How should I care for my hearing protection device?

  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Check hearing protection regularly for wear and tear.
  • Replace ear cushions or plugs that are no longer pliable.
  • Replace a unit when head bands are so stretched that they do not keep ear cushions snugly against the head.
  • Disassemble ear muffs to clean.
  • Wash ear muffs with a mild liquid detergent in warm water, and then rinse in clear warm water. Ensure that sound-attenuating material inside the ear cushions does not get wet.
  • Use a soft brush to remove skin oil and dirt that can harden ear cushions.
  • Squeeze excess moisture from the plugs or cushions and then place them on a clean surface to air dry. (Check the manufacturer's recommendations first to find out if the ear plugs are washable.)


http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/ear_prot.html





HEAR BETTER CENTER: MUSICIANS HEARING HEALTH

PROTECT YOUR EARS
We are living in a very noisy world today. With the establishment of all this industries, music systems in matatus, phones with loud music and the list is countless. It is the duty of every person to make sure they protect their ears, it is also the duty of factories and industries to provide precautionary measures for their staffs. They should also provide the necessary education on the level of noise in the company, how to protect themselves from the effect of noise induced hearing loss and the overall hearing health education. For those with hearing problems they are encouraged to seek the advice of an audiologist. Certain levels of hearing loss can be corrected while others a hearing aid can help to improve the level of hearing. Lower the volume of your phone, move away from noise, wear hearing protectors such as earplugs or earmuffs....this are some of the ways to protect your ears. From Helen Keller we realize how being deaf can turn out to be. Below is a quote from the famous Keller, '“Blindness separates people from things; deafness separates people from people.” ― Helen Keller