TITLE:
Social Effects of Hearing Loss on Patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Benjamin Babson Bako, Philip Obadiah Gomos
KEYWORDS:
Social Effects (Challenges), Hearing Loss, Patients with Hearing Loss, Family, Community
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.13 No.5,
September
25,
2024
ABSTRACT: Hearing loss has caused serious social effects among people living with it. Those who relate to patients with hearing loss (PHL) also share some part of the negative effects. Some specifics are communication disability, which impacts speech and language development, academic performance, and social or work life. In previous years, the problem was predicted to be aggravated as the expected life span of the population increased. The study was conducted among PHL and their family members in JUTH and Kazahyet Audiology Service in Jos. 150 PHL were purposively sampled. The study was guided by a Cross-sectional Survey Research Design, and the specific objectives were to (1) identify the social effects of hearing loss on the PHL, (2) determine the implication of social effects on PHL, and (3) determine the extent at which these social effects affect PHL. The outcome of the study shows that the social effects faced by PHL are poor relationships, no secrets, dependence on sign language, frustration, depression, and dependence on lip reading. Some stop schooling, and others feel laughed at and therefore choose the path of isolation. The implication is that hearing loss is expensive to manage. PHL always feel they are not contributing their quarter in life as usual; they feel stigmatized and are not easy to relate with. The study recommends that the government should come up with policies that will check man-made behaviors that exert negative social effects on PHL in our society, subsidize the cost of hearing aids and cochlear implants to be affordable for PHL, formulate a policy on mandatory newborn hearing screening before the infant is discharged from the hospital to help in the early identification of hearing loss. Finally, the early creation of awareness of the dangers or consequences of hearing loss will go a long way in preventing our society from involvement in high-risk behaviors that will cause hearing loss.