Nearly 10,000 students in nine districts have been found with ear-related issues. This is according to the health ministry, which is conducting nationwide screening for school students as part of the Hear, Listen, and Speak programme. The most common issue detected during the screening was minor impacted wax or over-accumulation of earwax, which can lead to hearing loss if not treated.
According to the health ministry, more than 75,000 students in over 100 schools were screened in Thimphu, Paro, Chhukha, Samtse, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Dagana and Sarpang.
So far, more than 2000 students have been referred to hospitals for treatment.
The ministry says the Hear, Listen, and Speak programme fitted three and upgraded 44 hearing aids.
They say the programme is being conducted to address hearing loss and ear-related issues in the country.
“The purpose of this Hear, Listen, and Speak programme or project is to ensure that we have a community-based screening and detection and ensure that there are appropriate interventions conducted for individuals or students or children who have hearing problems. Number two is we were also looking to establish, build the capacity of health workers or healthcare providers to improve the capacity of delivering these interventions,” said Laigden Dzed, the Chief Programme Officer of Non-Communicable Disease Division, Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, a doctor with the National Referral Hospital says early detection is essential to provide treatment at the right time.
The doctor added that apart from over-accumulation of wax, ear infection is another common problem.
For such issues, prompt treatment through detection is important to avoid hearing loss.
“Now we are seeing increased hearing loss because of chronic exposure to loud noise. The most common is when youngsters or even adults use earphones daily. Not only earphones but at a very high volume and for a prolonged duration. It can slowly damage your small cells inside the ear, which are called inner hair cells and on a fine day, you will realise that your hearing is not adequate,” said Dr Phub Tshering, ENT and Head and Neck Oncosurgeon.
He says the appropriate volume is below 60 per cent to prevent hearing loss in the future.
According to the health ministry, as part of the programme they have introduced cochlear implants, an earmold lab, and digital hearing aid fittings at the national referral hospital.
The health ministry is implementing the programme in collaboration with the Health and Wellbeing Division of the education and skills development ministry.
Singye Dema
Edited by Phub Gyem
