Flip chart on good ear & hearing care habits

Instructions for the use of Flip Chart

With the use of this chart, you can inform people regarding care of the ears.

In order to use it correctly, explain to the group that it's important to take good care of the ears.

This chart has many pages with pictures and written information. Hold the chart, so that these pages face the group. The same information along with few additional points is also given on the page facing you. Generate discussion with the group, as per the pointers given on this page. Explain the text to the group.

In the end, tell the group that with proper care, we can continue to enjoy good hearing throughout our lives.

A mother with her child explaining how to prevent ear diseases and prevent hearing loss.

Instruction: THE ABILITY TO HEAR IS A PRECIOUS GIFT

Discussion: First ask the group about the role of the ear in the body. Discuss with about the effects of poor hearing on our lives. Ask them their experiences regarding various ear problems in their family like ear discharge, hearing loss, pain in ear etc.

Explain to them: There are nearly 300 million persons in the world who have hearing loss.

Proper care of our ears can prevent many such diseases that lead to hearing loss.

A mother breast feeding her baby in slightly head raised position.

Discussion: Ask the mothers present as to how they position their child when they breastfeed.

Explain to them: If the child is flat when being breastfed or bottle fed, the milk can reach into the ears of the child. This can lead to pus formation in the ear and sometimes cause pain.

'The care of the ear starts from early childhood.

Always feed the baby with the head slightly raised.'

A child who is crying and is holding his ear. He seems to be having pain in the ear.

Discussion: Ask the group if there is any child in their family or neighbourhood who has a discharging ear or who complains of pain in the ear.

Explain to them: Discharge from the ear indicates a serious disease within the ear. If we do not treat this properly, it can lead to hearing loss. At times, this can also cause serious complications (related to the brain) and be life threatening. Discharging ear MUST be examined at the earliest and proper treatment started.

'If the child suffers with discharging ear, pain in the ear or has recurrent nose and throat infections: Consult an ENT doctor immediately.

Various objects such as hairpin, pen, pencil or matchstick which can cause damage to the ear drum while scratching.

Discussion: Ask the group about ho many regularly clean their ears from the inside. Ask them about what they use to clean their ears.

Explain to them: Ears have been designed by God in a manner that they can clean themselves. We should only clean the ears from the outside by wiping it with a towel, handkerchief or some cotton. Never try to clean the ear from inside. This can be harmful.

'Never use pointed objects like hairpin, pen, pencil or matchstick to clean or scratch the ear. You can damage the eardrum!

A road side quack cleaning the ear of a person which can damage the ear drum of that person.

Discussion: Ask the group if they ever put oil in their ears.

Explain to them: Instilling oil into the ear can harm your ear. It can even lead to infection of the ear.

'Do not put any kind of oil or liquid into your child's ear. Never go to roadside quacks to get your ears cleaned.'

This can damage your eardrum. Always get the ears cleaned only by a Doctor.

A child playing with beads and pea seeds which can be inserted in the ear as foreign bodies.

Discussion: Ask the group if they have ever heard of or seen a child who has put something like a bead, button, stone or seeds etc in to his/her ear.

Explain to them: Young children at times insert something into the ear while playing. This can damage the eardrum and lead to infections.

'Be careful in letting the child play with things like beads, seeds, buttons etc. They may put them in the ear.

If your child ever does put something in the ear, take him/her to the doctor immediately. Do NOT try to remove it yourself.

A child being slapped on the ear which can cause damage to the ear drum.

Discussion: Discuss with the group about how parents/teachers sometimes hit the children. Ask them what they think can happen if a child is hit over the ears.

Explain to them: A slap or injury over the ear can cause the eardrum to tear or rupture. This can lead to hearing loss.

'Never slap anyone, especially over the ears. It can damage the hearing apparatus.'

A cracker bursting in proximity of a child's ear and thus damaging it.

Discussion: Discuss with the group about their experience with firecrackers especially the noise producing ones. Ask them if they can think of any problem which can occur with the use of such crackers.

Explain to them: Bangs and Loud sounds can harm our hearing. It can also cause tearing of the eardrum and damage the hearing nerves permanently.

'Avoid exposure to sudden loud sounds, such as crackers, loud toys and gunshots. They can cause permanent deafness.'

A child listening exposing himself to loud noise on headphones, speakers and factories which is harmful for the ears.

Discussion: Discuss with the group about the causes of noise in our environment. Discuss with them regarding loudspeakers, machines, factories, traffic, musical instruments, I-Pods, MP3 players (as applicable to the socio-cultural background of the group with you)

Explain to them: Regular or continuous exposure to loud sounds (such as music system, factory noise, traffic sounds) can led to hearing loss.

A sad child with hearing impairment who is sad as he is not able to communicate and interact with his friends.

Discussion: Ask the group about the effect of reduced hearing on our lives. Discuss with them about how elderly persons behave when they cannot hear well. Discuss with them as to what would be the effect of reduced hearing on the education of a child.

Explain to them: A person with hearing impairment has difficulty in communicating his feelings and interacting with his friends.

Proper care of the ears can help us to enjoy good hearing forever!

Flip chart on good ear & hearing care habits

Instructions for the use of Flip Chart

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