Yasir Ali Jamali
MARCH is a month to raise awareness about hearing loss prevention.
In a world where many illnesses are visible, hearing loss remains one of the most overlooked and underestimated disabilities. It does not bleed, does not cause a fever and does not show obvious physical signs, yet it silently changes lives. Today, hearing loss is emerging as a serious global public health concern.
In December 2022, while working with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine on Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment, I realized how broad the field of public health truly is. Public health protects people from the earliest stages of life until death. As an audiologist, I always wonder how we can protect hearing from day one. After graduation, I began my clinical journey, first as an intern and later as an audiologist in private practice, focusing on ear and hearing care. Prevention became my passion.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 60% of hearing loss is preventable through timely intervention and proper management. Globally, more than 1.5 billion people are living with some degree of hearing loss and this number is projected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050 if current trends continue. These figures are not just statistics; they represent individuals, families and futures at risk.
In Pakistan, an estimated 14.5 million people live with some degree of hearing loss and nearly 50% of childhood hearing loss can be linked to genetic factors, with cousin marriages being a significant contributing factor in many cases. These numbers highlight the urgent need for genetic counselling and community education.
In clinical practice, I frequently meet young parents concerned about their child’s delayed speech. When asked how they realized there might be a hearing issue, they respond, “We are not sure. Someone in the family noticed.” In one case, a little girl named Mirha was brought to the clinic after a relative tested her reaction by striking the bed with a hammer while she was asleep. She was not even startled by the vibration and the family assumed she could not hear. After a complete audio logical evaluation, she was diagnosed with profound hearing loss.
In Quetta, I have observed another common misconception. Many families delay seeking help because they believe, “The father spoke late, so the child will also speak late.” Unfortunately, hearing loss is the only disability that directly affects a child’s ability to develop speech and language. Delayed identification often results in long-term communication, educational and social challenges.
Hearing loss remains invisible and perhaps that is why it is ignored. But invisibility does not mean insignificance. When left undetected, it affects speech development, academic performance, social confidence and future employment opportunities. What begins as a silent condition can become a lifelong disadvantage. Mirha’s story reminds us that early concern, screening and action can change a child’s entire life. It is time we listen more carefully, not only to sounds, but to silence.
—The writer is a visiting cochlear implant audiologist at the Balochistan cochlear implant project, Health Department, Govt of Balochistan.
(yasiralijamali2@gmailcom)
