Protecting Our Children's Hearing: A Growing Concern in Thailand

While CMIRC continues vital work like vision screenings and swim safety lessons for children, we must also consider a quieter — yet equally urgent — danger: noise-induced hearing loss.

In Thailand, there is little awareness of the risks posed by high noise levels, both in and out of school. Yet according to the World Health Organization (2016), prolonged exposure to sounds over 81 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage in children. This can severely impact speech, language development, and long-term learning outcomes.

Hearing Matters. Rotary Is Taking Action.The Rotary Hearing Action Group (Hearing RAG) is working globally to:

• Raise awareness about hearing loss, affecting over 360 million people worldwide.

• Collect and refurbish used hearing aids to donate to those in need.

• Support Schools of Audiology and Primary Ear Care training in countries where professional care is scarce (sometimes only 1 audiologist per 3 million people).

• Promote Early Childhood Hearing Screening with appropriate follow-up, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and medical treatment.

Many children in developing countries miss out on school not because they are completely deaf, but because moderate or severe hearing loss is undiagnosed or untreated.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.ifrahl.org/

CMIRC's New InitiativeCMIRC is exploring a hearing health project for children, which would complement our existing vision screening programme in 13 Chiang Mai municipal schools.

Key concerns and next steps:

• Thai children are regularly exposed to hazardous noise levels at school and in their communities.

• The Rotary Hearing Action Group (Hearing RAG) is led by Dr. Elaine Saunders (Secretary and Past President, Rotary Club of South Yarra).

• Dr. James Fielding, CEO of Audeara and advisor to Hearing RAG, has expressed interest in participating.

• There are mobile apps available (iOS and Android) that offer accessible hearing screening tools.

  
  

Next Steps:

• Confirm CMIRC’s commitment to the hearing health project.

• Reach out to Thai government and private health groups for collaboration.

• Identify local audiologists in Chiang Mai willing to partner.

• Explore potential sponsorships from hearing tech companies operating in Thailand.