My Mushings

Deaf Awareness Week came about through Presidential Proclamation No. 823 issued on November 8, 1991, Eversince many has heeded the call for the observance of Deaf Awareness Week on November 7-13. This year with the theme “Educate. Enrich. Empower, private, special schools with programs for the deaf, and Special Education (SpEd) Centers are urged to undertake activities in support of the celebration.

This year the event is spearheaded by the Metro Manila Federation for Deaf MMFAD. It will feauture programs that will help the public understand hearing loss and will campaign for public awareness regarding this disability. It will feature programs that will ultimately aid the deaf to become functioning members of the society.  The weeklong event includes fun activities, free services and forums for teachers to further educate Filipinos about hearing loss. There will be a Enrichment Activities and Seminars at the UST Graduate School. Dance Competition at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center. 4 Days of Ear Check Up at the University of Santo Tomas.

Studies reveal that generally one to three individuals in every 1,000 births suffer from some form of hearing impairment: 90 percent of deaf children are born into families where both parents have hearing impairment; men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women; and there is a strong relationship between age and hearing loss.

In celebrating Deaf Awareness Week this year, we not only pay tribute to countless individuals who, despite their hearing and other impairments, endeavor to have access to education to improve their lot. Let us support every effort to bring them into the mainstream, where they too have a rightful place, and help them to gain access to opportunities to become productive members of their community and country.

Although it is an alarming phenomenon hearing loss is potentially preventable. Deafness or hearing impairment can be present at birth or develop later in life. Some of the common causes of hearing loss are accumulated earwax, intake of certain medications,excessive noise exposure, old age and ear infection or in some rare occurences Otitis Media.

Acute Otitis Media (Latin) is inflammation of the middle ear, or a middle ear infection. It occurs in the area between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache, the other being otitis externa. Diseases other than ear infections can also cause ear pain, including cancers of any structure that shares nerve supply with the ear and shingles which can lead to herpes zoster oticus. Though painful, otitis media is not threatening and usually heals on its own within 2–6 weeks.

I love going to this kinds of events it makes me feel that I am so lucky while some worry about their
motorhome repairs these kids worry about when they can use their sense of hearing.Today with the help of technology and medical research, protection against AOM (Acute Otitis Media) can be achieved through vaccination. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has developed a vaccine against AOM. GSK even donated 300 doses of pneumoccocal vaccine to MMFAD to support their cause.

Deaf Awareness week is supported by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Better Hearing Philippines Inc., University of Santo Tomas,Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), Seri Fantasy World, MedEI (Cochlear Implant Company) ,Starkey Hearing FOundation, Rotary Club of Pasay, Dream Weaver Visual Exponents,Inc., Abbott Laboratories