Hearing Loss Prevalence and Impact - By 2050, it is estimated that one-third of the population will suffer from a hearing problem [1] - Approximately 15 亿 (1500 million) people worldwide currently suffer from hearing loss [4] - By 2050, it is projected that 25 亿 (2500 million) people will have hearing problems [5] - Among every 1000 children born, 4 face hearing problems from birth [6] - Undetected hearing loss can lead to social isolation, impacting personal and family life [4][15] Early Detection and Intervention - Hearing problems often go unnoticed in children due to lack of screening mechanisms at birth [7] - Early detection and diagnosis are crucial to prevent speech development issues and ensure a normal life [8][9][10] Hearing Aid Technology and Misconceptions - Hearing loss can happen at any age, not just in old age, due to increasing noise pollution and earphone usage [16][17] - Hearing aids do not cause permanent hearing loss and are now technologically advanced with features like Bluetooth connectivity, AI, and fall detection [18][19][20] - Modern hearing aids are often invisible, making hearing loss more noticeable than the devices themselves [18][21] Prevention and Awareness - The "60/60 rule" is recommended: limit earphone volume to 60% or usage to 60 minutes with breaks [22] - Using noise-canceling earplugs in noisy environments like nightclubs can protect hearing [23] - Regular annual hearing checkups are essential for early detection and management of hearing loss [24][25]

Personal Experience & Impact - The individual experienced profound hearing loss after an assault, leading to the need for a cochlear implant [4][7][8] - The cochlear implant is described as a lifeline, bringing positivity and new opportunities [17][19] - The individual emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptation, and humor as coping mechanisms [20][21] - The experience led to advocacy work with deaf charities and mentoring others considering cochlear implants [18] Cochlear Implant Technology - A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that helps people with severe or profound hearing loss gain access to sound, bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear [11][12] - The technology involves a surgically implanted internal processor and an external magnet that connects to the processor [11] - The sound experienced through a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing, often described as robotic or artificial initially, requiring retraining of the brain [13][14] Accessibility & Advocacy - The individual encountered challenges in the workplace regarding accessibility, including people speaking unclearly or from behind, and feeling ignored when requesting accommodations [16][17] - The experience highlighted the need for self-advocacy and advocating for others with hearing loss [17]

[Music] So let's start with the Helen Adam Meer. She was an American uh disability expert and an author. She was blind from 18 months of the life. She was deaf.So someone asked her which disability you you you can explain which disability is is bothering to you more. She explained that blindness cut off you from the things but deafness cuts you from the people. So that is the effect of deafness on the quality of life.It cuts off you from the people. So if you if if you see the data of the WHO, the recent da ...