Letters to THE EDITOR: Hearing loss

Hearing loss A recent report by World Health Organization has expressed serious concern over the increasing number of people who are suffering from hearing loss. One in every four individuals, or around 2. 5 billion people, across the world, will experience mild-to-profound hearing loss by 2050.

It is estimated that at least 700 million people will suffer from disabling hearing loss and require ear and hearing care in the coming thirty years. WHO defines disabling hearing loss as greater than 40 decibels loss in adults, and greater than 30 decibels in children. Exposure to excessive noise was cited by the first World Report on hearing as one of the reasons for the disability.

Genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs and ageing are the other factors mentioned by WHO. It is also mentionable that a large number of young generations fall victim to hearing loss due to the use of headphones at a larger level. Many of the causes that lead to hearing loss can be avoided through awareness programmes, public health strategies and clinical interventions implemented across the life course.

Avoiding exposure to loud sounds and toxic medicines can save our nation from a deaf generation. Harsha Mohan Sarma, Nalbari Deluge in Assam Now, at present floods in Assam occur annually three-four times and inflict huge destruction to humans, houses and properties, livestock, flora and fauna, causing riverbank erosion, landslides and whatnot. This year’s floods are dangerously poised as it is followed by heavy unseasonal rains from early in May with all severity, including deaths, loss of croplands, snapping road and rail communication etc.

The rainy season in the northeastern states is normally from June to September of the year; so the alarm of floods and fury remains for the coming months. Up till now, in this current second wave, casualties have risen high as the total death toll officially informed has crossed 100, excluding many unaccounted missing persons which are yet to be traced. The frequency and severity of floods and accompanying havoc remind me of the ‘great deluge’ linked to the mythical story as an act of divine retribution, as a great flood is sent for cleansing humanity of its sins.

In reality, thousands of crores of the public fund have been spent each year to mitigate the scourge of floods, but to no avail. There is utmost need to go for a holistic plan for finding a permanent solution to flood against large-scale devastations. That the planners and executing agencies do not forget these horrifying pictures of flood victims and destructions so that this will drive them to do their task with perfection.

Through this august column, I would like to make an earnest appeal to all involved with activities for the prevention of flood damage to ponder. Pannalal Dey, Guwahati. A sight to behold India is at present under the ablest leadership of Narendra Modi, the PM.

During his tenure, our country has become a leading nation around the globe and has made its presence felt in an international forum, health, defence production, sports etc. But sadly because of a few corrupt, antinational and religious zealots with extra-territorial loyalty, partly because of our porous constitution and judiciary we feel as if we are a divided house. Take for example the DMK leaders for their narrow political gain have raised the issue of language and some religious zealots have been raising the issue of religion to wage a civil-war-like situation in the country.

The only silver lining is our Bravehearts and sportsmen who are standing shoulder below our tricolour before encountering their adversaries. These Bravehearts from Kashmir to Kerala, Assam to Gujrat singing our national anthem with their hands on the chest and singing their heart out to bring laurels to our nation unlike some secular forces who are refusing to hoist the tricolour and sing ‘Vande Mataram’. The roles of our Bravehearts and sportsmen as seen through the camera lenses are a sight to behold.

Our sportsmen and Bravehearts unite the nation while our politicians divide the nation. It is true as daylight. Dr Ashim Chowdhury, Guwahati.

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