Hearing loss is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide, and an estimated 80 % of affected individuals live in low- and middle-income countries. The findings suggest that nutritional interventions in South Asia could help prevent hearing loss. Results of the auditory tests show that young adults who were stunted in childhood were nearly twice as likely to show signs of hearing loss. We now have evidence that addressing this nutritional burden might also prevent hearing loss later in life,” said West. This is believed to be the first, however, to investigate the relationship between generalized under nutrition and hearing loss, and it is believed to be the first to identify early childhood nutritional status as a modifiable risk factor for later-life hearing loss.

Source: Hindustan Times February 09, 2018 06:22 UTC