Most cases of hearing impairment received by the Health Ministry are from children.

During a free ear clinic at Nakasi today – to mark World Hearing Day, the Ministry reveals that they’ve received seventy percent of cases that involve children.

Dr Chung Oh says their age range from 3 months to 15 years.

He says parents need to monitor their children and ensure they don’t poke their ears with any sharp objects.

When the teacher says that you child does not pay attention to classes. Try monitoring your baby and if he/she does not respond, parents should get suspicious as this is evidence of hearing impairment of some kind of ear disease.

Dr Oh says parents also need to take their children to health centers for regular checkups – when children complain of ear pain.

If there is some sort of discharge from your ears or you have ear pain, please do not stay home. This is another issue we have seen. Do not stay home, visit your health centers.

The Doctor says hearing issues can be minimized if the problem is detected early.