Health

9.6% Fijians have hearing impairment: FHO

March 6, 2019 6:42 am

Close to ten percent of Fiji’s population faces some sort of hearing problem.

The Frank Hilton Organizations say when compared to countries like New Zealand, the number in Fiji is shocking.

Organization’s Specialist in Hearing Aids and Ear Care Sevanaia Ratumaitavuki says for a small country like Fiji, 80,000 Fijians having some sort of hearing problem is shocking.

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“80,000 Fijians which is 9.6 % of the population are living with hearing impairment which is considered disabling. If you compare that to a developed country like New Zealand, their prevalence of hearing impairment is only 5.7%.”

Ratumaitavuki says from the screenings they have done, most hearing cases involve children.

“Normally in our clinic, we see children especially children who come under 3-15 years of age, who are prevalent with hearing loss cases.”

With the growing number of hearing impairment cases being recorded, the Frank Hilton Organization plans to open offices in the Western and Northern Division where Fijians can be screened more often.