‘Fear of surgeries forces elderly to suffer hearing loss’

Many elderly people in Bahrain suffer hearing loss after being afraid of surgical procedures, according to experts.

It is not uncommon for the elderly to be affected by hearing-loss; while corrective procedures such as insertion of cochlear implants can help them overcome the issues, many elderlies in the Gulf region are choosing to suffer in silence instead of opting for the corrective procedures, said experts who took part in the Otology Forum, which was held yesterday at the Ritz Carlton.

The forum discussed the developments and intricacies in the rapidly changing field of Otology including pediatrics and adult ear diseases and hearing restoration surgeries. The conference entailed debates, keynote presentations, talks, and workshops.

Speaking to Tribune on the sidelines of the event Consultant ENT surgeon, the head of cochlear implant team and head of ENT department at SMC Abdulkarim Alsaei said that more awareness is needed among the public about issues related to hearing-loss.