Not only is the growing noise pollution damaging the ear, but a number of other factors also contribute to it. According to Dr K B Bhargava, convener of the National Deaf Day to be commemorated on November 17, people with a fat rich diet or those suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure are more prone to ear ailments.

ENT doctors say that diabetes is known to damage the nerves in the ear and fat rich diet leads to thickened blood vessels which in turn affect the hearing capacity of an individual.

Bhargava says: ``In a country where around 10 per cent of the population suffers from minor or major deafness, the patients themselves underestimate the severity of the ailment. Unlike visually impaired persons who rectify their vision with spectacles, people with a hearing impairment refrain from visiting ENT specialists anddelay using hearing aids as long as possible because they don't like the idea of wearing a hearing aid.''

November 17 has been announced as the National Day for the deaf to ``prepare the nation and raise the consciousness of the populace''. This is the second national day being organised by the association, which is also celebrating its golden jubilee year. ``There is a need to have a national day for the deaf just as there are other national days,'' says Bhargava. ``It is important that all the causes and disadvantages of hearing impairment are brought to light and the public is made aware. Even the slightest hearing loss can cause serious problems, specially in places of work.''

Besides hereditary factors like weak nerves, eardrum defects or defective bones, continuous exposure to loud sounds above 90 decibels can also cause deafness. Similarly being in the vicinity of a sudden loud noise of around 80 decibels can also cause hearing loss.

Addressing the issue of cleaning ones ears, doctors say thatthe ear has a self-cleaning mechanism. The dirt in ones ear comes out naturally in the form of white flakes, which can be brushed out of the outer ear. So all the ear buds and towels that people thrust into their ears or the oil that may carry fungus cause more harm than good. These homely ear cleaning rituals apparently push the wax into the inner ear, clogging the audio channel.