Consultant, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon, Dr. Ngozi
Emma-Nzekwue on Tuesday in Benin said that self medication was the major cause
of deafness.

Emma-Nzekwue, who consults for Stella Obasanjo Mother and
Children Hospital in Benin, told The Tide that some antibiotics and malaria
drugs could cause deafness when taken without doctor’s prescription.

She defined deafness as that degree of impediment when a
person was unable to understand sound even with hearing aids.

“When a patient has hearing loss, he can benefit from
hearing aids and surgery depending on the type of treatment, but deafness is
like the end point,’’ she said.

The consultant said that drugs like Chloramphenicol,
Quinine, and Streptomycin were autotoxin drugs (a poisonous substance), adding
that they could damage the ear and cause deafness.

According to him, the drugs should only be taken when
prescribed by a doctor.

The ENT surgeon said that the use of certain drugs,
especially anti viral drugs had also been known to cause deafness in children
when taken during pregnancy.

“Women having fibril illness (rashes, chicken pox, measles)
during pregnancy should see the doctor for proper drug administration and
treatment to avoid damaging the ears of the unborn child.’’

Emma-Nzekwue said that hearing loss as a result of a slap on
the ear could progress to deafness if the ears were not examined and properly
treated.

She said that constant exposure to noise, old age and ear
infections could also cause hearing loss and deafness and  advised Nigerians to make it a habit to
undergo proper screening of their ears at least once a year.

“Have ear screening once a year sometimes you may not know
that you are losing your hearing.

“People should know that it is their right to see an ear
specialist when they have ear problems,” the surgeon said.

She also advised medical practitioners to always update
themselves with new research findings to enable them treat patients
appropriately.