Eight million Nigerians live with hearing disorders – Don

The President of the Speech Pathologists and Audiologists Association of Nigeria, Prof. Julius Ademokoya, has disclosed that approximately eight million Nigerians are affected by hearing disorders.

He made this announcement while presenting his address at the 2025 SPAAN annual conference, which took place at the KAAF Auditorium, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.

During discussions at the annual conference, Ademokoya elaborated that statistics indicate that out of every 1,000 children born in Nigeria, six will experience congenital hearing loss.

He stated, “We also have adults suffering from hearing disorders, which may arise from accidents, drug abuse, or genetic factors. Any hearing issue that goes untreated leads to significant challenges for the individual, their family, and the nation.

“In our society, cultural norms often overlook the importance of seeking treatment, medical care, and professional therapy for speech-language issues. There is a common belief that if a child is not speaking, they will eventually outgrow it.

“Some individuals resort to drug abuse due to untreated speech-language communication challenges, leading to frustration. With no support available, they may either take their own lives or turn to drugs, thus becoming a burden on society. These are critical issues that require government intervention,” he advised.

Additionally, the Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Adetoun Agboola, emphasized that children with disabilities should not be confined at home due to their conditions.

She noted that Ekiti State is at the forefront of ensuring that all children receive proper assessments before being enrolled in school, especially those with disabilities.

Earlier, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria, Prof. Rufai Ahmad, reiterated that the organization convenes annually to collaborate on finding solutions to societal challenges.

“I think we are supposed to have a collaboration between the government, the association, and parents, so that we can be able to come up with preventive measures,” Ahmed stated.