Home / Programs / Disability / Deafness

Deafness

Hearing Impairment Facts

• An estimated 10% of the world’s population have a mild or worse hearing impairment
• 250 million people have a moderate or worse hearing impairment
• 2/3 of them live in the developing world
• 50% of hearing impairment and deafness is avoidable

What causes Hearing Impairment?

Illnesses that are less common in industrialized countries often lead to widespread damaged hearing or complete hearing loss in developing countries, where health workers and access to health care are scarce and often the population is less informed.

Up to 6% of children under age 10 in developing countries suffer from chronic otitis media. If it is not treated early, only an operation may be able to prevent severe hearing impairment.

Mumps, measles, meningitis, cerebral malaria, and other infections can cause deafness in children.  Infections during pregnancy (e.g. rubella, syphilis), birthing difficulties and the use of ototoxic drugs carry the risk of hearing impairment for the baby.

How CBM helps

The key focus of CBM in preventing the effects of hearing impairment is education. Our main targets are local health personnel, but public awareness of the problem significantly advances early detection and management. Screenings in schools enable to detect and treat ear diseases. Many of the infections leading to hearing impairment can be prevented by vaccination – e.g. rubella, meningitis, measles and mumps.

When hearing impairment is already unavoidable, providing hearing aids, rehabilitation and education alleviates the individual and social impacts. CBM supports a number of schools for the deaf.

How You Can Help Provide hearing Aids to the Deaf, Behind the Ear Provide hearing Aids to the Deaf, Body Worn CBM does an excellent job helping people with deafness I would like to support your work with deafness and disabilities.

Prevention & Treatment

CBM provides preventive medical care to 82,000 ear patients each year and educational/social care to more than 22,000 children with a hearing impairment. Through our schools for the deaf and other local programs, CBM provides education and social training. Hearing aids and other assistance is provided by CBM.

A Sample of Related CBM Projects

• Primary Ear Care Centre (PECC)
• Deaf Blind Program Alex
• Kerugoya School for the Deaf
• Centre d'Education et Formation Intégree de Sourds
• Instituto Santa Teresinha
• P.C.E.A. Kambui School for the Deaf

| Follow us on: Facebook