Today is International Day of the Deaf. The World Health Organization's "World Hearing Report" shows that one-fifth of the world's population has hearing loss, affecting over 1.5 billion people. So, how can we detect hearing loss earlier? Li Yongxin, Director of the Ear Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: These 10 questions are actually crucial. If there are 3 to 4 questions that have problems, we recommend seeking medical attention at the hospital, suspecting hearing loss. How can newborns undergo hearing screening and genetic testing for deafness? According to the Maternal and Child Health Care Law of the People's Republic of China, all children must undergo newborn hearing screening in areas where conditions permit after birth. Conducting hearing screening and genetic testing for newborns can enable more deaf children to receive earlier intervention and rehabilitation. So, how can newborns undergo hearing screening and genetic testing for deafness? Newborn hearing screening refers to non-invasive hearing testing conducted on every newborn between 48 and 72 hours after birth, in a natural sleep or quiet state, to screen for hearing impairment in newborns. The genetic testing for deafness is generally conducted after 72 hours of birth in newborns, mainly through the collection of heel blood for testing. The detection of deafness genes can serve as a powerful supplement to newborn hearing screening, screening individuals or families at high risk of deafness and providing them with opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention. How to choose hearing aids? For the hearing-impaired population, hearing aids are important auxiliary tools. However, there are various types and functions of hearing aids on the market. How to choose the right hearing aid for oneself? Firstly, go to a regular hospital for a detailed ear examination and undergo hearing testing to determine the nature and degree of hearing loss; Then, make an appointment with a qualified hearing therapist for hearing aid consultation and selection, in order to achieve the best hearing aid effect. Kong Ying, chief technician of the Department of Neurology and Otology at Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: Everyone's hearing is different, and it should be based on the actual hearing condition of this patient. The parameters and some functions of hearing aids vary according to different needs. Only by providing patients with precise and personalized tuning can hearing aids maximize their effectiveness. Currently, most hearing aids on the market use digital signal processing technology, and different styles of hearing aids are suitable for different populations. Ear back hearing aids and customized in ear hearing aids both belong to air guided hearing aids, which amplify sound signals and transmit them to the inner ear through the outer and middle ears to listen to sound. They are suitable for most people with hearing loss and are the first choice for elderly deaf patients. Bone conduction hearing aids do not require passing through the outer and middle ears, but transmit sound to the inner ear by vibrating the skull. They are suitable for patients with congenital external auditory canal occlusion, chronic otitis media, and other conditions who are not suitable for wearing pneumatic hearing aids. Many people believe that hearing loss in the elderly is normal, and even think that the back of the ear cannot be treated. Are these statements correct? Listen to what the experts have to say. Li Yongxin, Director of the Ear Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: This viewpoint is obviously incorrect. About 60% of people aged 65 and above will experience hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and ultimately Alzheimer's disease. So we must pay attention to the issue of our ears. Li Yongxin, Director of the Ear Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: It's not entirely correct, not everyone's hearing will decline. We also see elderly people aged 90 or even older in the outpatient department with completely normal hearing. So this may be related to personal self-discipline, family genes, diet, and lifestyle habits, and not everyone's hearing will decline as they age. (New Society)