Infections in children and hearing loss in the elderly are linked according to an English study.
The diseases that we develop as a child – even the most common ones – have consequences on our health as we get older. So tonsillitis and ear infections developed at an early age could lead to a loss of hearing ability once you become a senior. These results come from a long-term survey carried out in the United Kingdom since 1947.
The Newcastle Thousand Families Study followed the journey of 1,142 children from their birth in Newcastle in 1947 to the present day, measuring their growth and development and thus making it possible to measure the evolution of their health in the long term. A quarter of these participants, who are now 67, were tested for hearing and the results clearly show that those who had infections as children are more likely to suffer from hearing loss.
Sequelae 50 years later
We knew the impact of infections, in particular serous ear infections, on hearing. These benign childhood illnesses can lead to deafness in children but also to language delays. This new study shows that there is a longer term consequence of these diseases on the health of the patient. “Our findings show that those who suffered from infections when they were young are more likely to be hard of hearing by the time they are in their 60s,” said Dr. Mark Pearce, who led the study at the Institute of Health and of Society of the University of Newcastle. “Reducing childhood infections could therefore help prevent hearing loss later in people’s lives,” he adds. Especially since many French people neglect their hearing … Thus, in France, 28% of children have never had a hearing test.
In France, 5 million people are hard of hearing. Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person’s life, potentially isolating them from family and friends… “These findings show us that it is never too early to think about protecting your ears. ”Concludes Dr. Mark Pearce.
To learn more about deafness, you can visit the website Deaf-info, developed by the National Center for Deafness Information. A telephone number has also been created, 0812 040 040. It is accessible from Monday from 2 pm to 8 pm; Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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