Isolation and Powerlessness of People with Hearing Loss in Central Asia
By 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing impairment and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation. These are the dark forecasts of the World Health Organisation's experts.
According to WHO, hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one ear or both ears, and leads to difficulty in hearing conversational speech or loud sounds. The causes of hearing loss and deafness may be genetic factors, intrauterine infections, a lack of oxygen at the time of birth, trauma to the ear or head, otitis and other infectious diseases. In adults or seniors, hearing loss can be provoked by chronic diseases or smoking.
Over 5 per cent of the world's population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their 'disabling' hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children), according to WHO.
'Disabling' hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels (dB) in the better hearing ear. Nearly 80 per cent of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, among those older than 60 years, over 25 per cent are affected by disabling hearing loss.
People usually use hearing aids or cochlear implants to hear better. The hearing device increases the sound, while the cochlear implant, unlike it, uses a special set of applications to translate and clear sounds by making their perception more natural.
According to WHO, when unaddressed, hearing loss can impact many aspects of life at individual level.
According to WHO, when unaddressed, hearing loss can impact many aspects of life at individual level.
Cochlear implant
Photo: pro-audiologia.ru
Photo: pro-audiologia.ru
Cochlear implant
Photo: pro-audiologia.ru
Photo: pro-audiologia.ru
People usually use hearing aids or cochlear implants to hear better. The hearing device increases the sound, while the cochlear implant, unlike it, uses a special set of applications to translate and clear sounds by making their perception more natural.
According to WHO, when unaddressed, hearing loss can impact many aspects of life at individual level.
According to WHO, when unaddressed, hearing loss can impact many aspects of life at individual level.
For example, adults can lose access to education and work, including cases of social isolation, loneliness and stigma.
In developing countries, children with hearing loss and deafness often do not receive schooling. Adults with hearing loss also have a much higher unemployment rate. Among those who are employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are in the lower grades of employment compared with the general workforce. These problems are typical for the Central Asian countries.
According to Rakhat Orozova, researcher of disability based in Kyrgyzstan, almost all states of former USSR place children with hearing loss and speech disorders to special schools or correctional classes because regular school teachers are not willing to work with them. To improve life to people with hearing loss and speech disorders, attention must be paid to the experience of other countries. For example, children with hearing loss in European countries, USA, Japan and China study at general education schools together with other students.
In developing countries, children with hearing loss and deafness often do not receive schooling. Adults with hearing loss also have a much higher unemployment rate. Among those who are employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are in the lower grades of employment compared with the general workforce. These problems are typical for the Central Asian countries.
According to Rakhat Orozova, researcher of disability based in Kyrgyzstan, almost all states of former USSR place children with hearing loss and speech disorders to special schools or correctional classes because regular school teachers are not willing to work with them. To improve life to people with hearing loss and speech disorders, attention must be paid to the experience of other countries. For example, children with hearing loss in European countries, USA, Japan and China study at general education schools together with other students.
"Their schools have an adapted curriculum, special teachers who prepare materials for children with hearing loss," Orozova said. "A tutor accompanies a child in the class. In other words, the main thing is not to have such children isolated from others, they study together in one class and develop their skills."
Moreover, Orozova said, some American kindergartens teach basic sign language to children.
"In other words, they don't try to adapt people with hearing loss to the society, but instead adapt the society to them. I think this is the right approach," she said.
Moreover, Orozova said, some American kindergartens teach basic sign language to children.
"In other words, they don't try to adapt people with hearing loss to the society, but instead adapt the society to them. I think this is the right approach," she said.
As for the employment of adults, European countries and the United States have special quotas. Every entrepreneur must employ a specific number of people with disabilities, otherwise they won't be able to get a licence for their income generating activities.
"I've seen personally how people with disabilities work in the USA, for example, in libraries, at the counter," Orozova said. "And this is a great experience, which should be applied in our country."
According to the researcher, foreign countries have well developed various movements and organisations of people with disabilities. If something is done to the disfavour of them, they begin to resent and say about violation of their rights.
"I've seen personally how people with disabilities work in the USA, for example, in libraries, at the counter," Orozova said. "And this is a great experience, which should be applied in our country."
According to the researcher, foreign countries have well developed various movements and organisations of people with disabilities. If something is done to the disfavour of them, they begin to resent and say about violation of their rights.
“
For them, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an important thing. And here no one listens to the community of persons with disabilities. Our officials only nod, but pay no attention to them. However, as we have found out, there are much more persons with disabilities in our country than in other countries.
This article was prepared as part of the Amplify, Verify, Engage: Information for Democratisation and Good Governance in Eurasia project implemented by IWPR and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and mentoring program of the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project implemented by IWPR with the financial support of the UK Government. The content of the article does not reflect the official position of the IWPR, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the Government of the United Kingdom.
Author
CABAR.asia
Editor
Natalia Lee
Design and layout
Akylai Tatenova
Title photo
Unsplash.com
