KUCHING: Local hearing experts or audiologists have been urged to put forward a proposal to policy makers that can help protect people from hearing loss.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said there is a need for new regulations or policy to prevent individuals from losing their hearing.
“At the moment, what is our policy (to prevent hearing loss)? We need to have a policy to help the loud noise-exposed individuals, for instance at the workplace or in the entertainment industry.
“So, I encourage the (hearing) professionals from the public and private sector to work together and come up with a proposal so that policy makers are able to change or bring about a new policy with regard to hearing loss and a single policy can make a lot of difference,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the Sarawak HEAR Health Carnival at Farley Kuching here on Sunday (Mar 5).
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said during the recent Chinese New Year celebration, he was one of those exposed to loud noise coming from the firecrackers and lion dance performance, and his smartwatch had alerted him to move away.
“Apart from having this kind of reminder to alert us, there is still a need for a policy in place to prevent hearing loss,” he pointed out.
On a related note, he said the Sarawak government has assisted children and teenagers in the state who suffer from hearing loss.
“To date, the state government through the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development has approved eight cochlear implants and two auditory brainstem implants for eight children and teenagers, with a total allocated budget of RM620,000.
“Children who underwent surgeries have now started to show very encouraging progress – responding well to sounds, starting to vocalise, producing vowels and continually undergoing schedule hearing follow up and speech rehabilitation at their respective locality,” he said.
The carnival is jointly organised by Sarawak HEAR Society, Sarawak ENT Society, ENT Department of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery UNIMAS, Hearlife Hearing Care Centre, Hearing Concept Company, Timberland Medical Centre and Eyeneed Optometrist in conjunction with World Hearing Day 2023.
