Medical Advices Blog

Nearly six million French people suffer from hearing loss, according to a study released in 2003 as part of a report on the objectives of Public Health. Not less than 60% of hearing impaired are over 55 years of hearing disorders the most common being attributed to presbycusis related to natural aging. So to help early identification of these problems the Association France Presbycusis has recently launched the project “Huh?” First screening test for disorders of the hearing by telephone.

A scientific screening test in Europe

Since January 2009, a simple phone call 0892 790 791 enables the French population to perform in a few minutes this first test screening of hearing impairment developed by Dutch researchers. The test dubbed “Huh?” Was created as part of a European scientific project and is already available in other countries of the European Union such as Germany, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom . Nearly 600 000 people have already used this system, anonymous, reliable and inexpensive (0.34 euros per minute).

The hearing test is conducted as follows: 27 sets of three figures are set out in a sound environment variable intensity. Users must validate the As each digit recognition using the keypad of their phone. They then obtain an immediate assessment of the quality of their hearing in noisy environments. This initial assessment encourages the hearing to take the necessary steps to obtain a medical diagnosis from a qualified ENT.

A need for prevention at the national

Doctors stress the importance of acting quickly when the first signs of hearing impairment. The embarrassment caused by this disability generates easily psychological suffering among those affected as they struggle to communicate with others in a noisy environment such as evenings, cocktail parties and receptions. The deaf want to hide their hearing problems and then they prefer isolation of society rather than admit their disability – even to their doctor.

So much so that 80% of the deaf in France have not been diagnosed or paired! This has been one of the catalysts that prompted the association France Presbyacousieà launch ad campaign to publicize the screening test for hearing impairment. Dr. Bruno Frachet, president of the association Presbycusis France, stressed that the message of this campaign has been designed specifically to dramatize the problem and break the taboo, while directing those affected to establish a diagnosis.

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