Covid: Hearing-impaired UAE residents struggling with new normal

Dubai - 1 in 4 people will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050: WHO

The new world of online learning and remote working has been particularly hard on those with hearing impairments. While they have been able to identify their tutors, deaf students in mainstream schools have found it challenging to lip read and keep up with their school curriculum.

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On the occasion of World Hearing Day, celebrated on March 3, Khaleej Times reached out to students, parents, doctors, and educators, who said the pandemic has been particularly hard on those with hearing impairments.

Furthermore, ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialists in the UAE have said a high number of children are now visiting the doctor with ear infections due to increased use of earphones and hearing aids.

Communication obstacles

Rubina Shaikh, a deaf and mute Dubai resident since 2011 and employee with an interior company, said, “Mask wearing and physical distances are good for safety measures amid the pandemic. However, masks have created barriers for those with hearing and speech disabilities.” It has become impossible for her to read lip movements, facial expressions, and body gestures.

“I rely on lip-reading to communicate. The increased use of facial coverings has led to isolation. I struggle to communicate more now than I used to: at the office, bank, grocery store — basically, anywhere I go now, even hospitals,” said Shaikh in a series of texts she sent Khaleej Times.

‘Educational growth has been impacted’

Twenty-year-old Ijjaz Nauphal, a student of Special Needs Future (SNF) Developmental Centre, was born with down syndrome and has more recently developed hearing difficulties. His dad, Nauphal NM, a resident of the UAE for nearly 25 years, said it has been challenging for the family to engage Iijaz in undertaking basic activities since they are finding it difficult to communicate with him.

“In the beginning, he did not have much difficulty with hearing. Now, it has become more and more evident. He is not using a hearing aid, as it is a bit expensive for us. He has a small hole in his ear that we hoped would recover as he grows; however, that is not the case,” said Nauphal.

According to Iijaz’s father, online learning has been more or less detrimental to his overall educational development as he is better at face-to-face communication. “He uses earphones, but that doesn’t seem to be helping him as much. Iijaz really enjoys dance, animation, and films. If he cannot hear these things properly, he is unable to comprehend it.”

Nauphal added his son misses school the most. “He misses interacting with his friends, getting ready for school, taking the bus, etc.”

Virtual classes a struggle

Mehnaz Ahmed, the general manager at SNF Development Center said, “For a student, who is hearing impaired, online learning can be very challenging and they find it difficult to cope with the curriculum. Teachers at the centre have gone the extra mile to ensure their learning continues. Resources have been provided to the kids beforehand to ensure parents can assist them at home.”

Dr Minu John, an audiologist and speech pathologist at Dubai’s Medeor Hospital also said that children with hearing loss may find it impossible to attend online learning sessions. Children need to be taught concepts by repeating it to them several times, which makes it difficult for them to keep up with their classmates.

“However, the positive aspect of this issue is that parents can be with the child throughout the class and help them learn,” said Dr John. “Children with mild behavioural issues also find it challenging to sit in front of a class for too long… they get distracted easily,” she explained.

Increase in ear infections amid pandemic

Doctors have also reported an increase in the number of children suffering from ear infections in the UAE. Dr Pramodkumar Ambadas Muntode, a specialist ENT at Aster Clinic, Qusais said the constant use of hearing devices causes irritation in the ear canal, leading to accumulation of wax, which then leads to hearing difficulties.

“Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in kids visiting the doctor with infections that may be caused by excessive use of earphones and hearing devices.” He added, “Even among adults, there are some now complaining of tinnitus, which is a ringing sensation in the ears,” he said, advising residents to avoid excessive use of hearing devices and headphones.

1 in 4 people will suffer from hearing loss

According to the first World Report on Hearing released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 3, nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─ or 1 in 4 people ─ will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com