“Hearing disorders are invisible and very often hidden from oneself by compensation mechanisms which create fatigue, nervous wear and which end up being dangerous as they can generate loss of cognitive and social stimulation.” The organizers of the 17th National Hearing Day (JNA) which is being held this Thursday, March 13, throughout France, reminds us of the importance of performing regular hearing tests. Many specialists are therefore available to the public to answer questions and test their hearing abilities in ENT departments in hospitals, participating practices and certain banks and pension funds equipped with terminals.
Last year, nearly 2,300 reception points enabled 200,000 people to benefit from a hearing screening test. This year, the day is dedicated to raising awareness of two ear diseases that are on the rise: tinnitus and hyperacusis. “In France, 3.7 million people suffer from permanent tinnitus and 12.3 million French people have tinnitus from time to time”, recall the organizers, citing the figures of the last survey produced by Ipsos.
Children also at risk
These buzzing or whistling sounds affect one in four French people during their lifetime. But less than one in two patients have seen a doctor about it, when solutions exist to treat this annoying hearing disorder. “They aim to relieve and support people who have it: hearing aids, drugs, psychotherapeutic and emotional support (psychotherapies, sophrology, etc.) “explains Dr. Martine Ohresser, ENT doctor and member of the JNA Scientific Committee. Hyperacusis, or hypersensitivity to normally tolerated noises, is also one of the hearing disorders to which specialists are often confronted.
This national day is an opportunity to recall that the hearing loss does not apply exclusively to the elderly. One in two French people would never have performed a hearing test. However, children who are used to listening to music with listeners at high volume and those who have suffered from serious ear infections are also at risk.
