Gaza children lose chance to treat hearing loss caused by bombs

Wateen al-Ajrami was just over a year old when a blast shook the small warehouse room in Jabalia, northern Gaza, where her family was sheltering. Her mother, Mariam, said Wateen was standing near a door at the time of the Israeli airstrike last August. Mariam hugged her daughter tightly, seeing fear in the child's eyes as she covered her ears and screamed.

There were no obvious physical wounds. Wateen was not bleeding, had no broken bones, and no shrapnel lodged in her body. But two or three days later, the family began to notice something alarming. "I called Wateen and she didn't answer... I spoke to her and she didn't react at all," Mariam said, adding that Wateen often pointed to her ears.

A hearing test from a specialist revealed what Mariam had started to fear: Wateen had nearly lost all hearing due to the blast. She lost about 85% of hearing in her left ear and 90% in her right, classified as severe to profound hearing loss. "It was an extremely shocking moment... Your child is healthy, just starting to speak her first words, and suddenly the doctor tells you she has lost her hearing," Mariam said, her eyes welling with tears.

According to Mariam, the doctor explained that the cause was the shockwave from the attack. He noted that Wateen's case was not the first he had seen during Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, which began in October 2023. Since that day, the family's life has turned into a series of medical follow-ups and searches for a solution that might restore Wateen's ability to hear. The child has undergone additional tests and an MRI. Medical reports were prepared and sent to the World Health Organization in hopes of receiving a medical referral abroad. But the wait continues.

Estimates from UN agencies and medical organizations indicate a sharp increase in the number of children in Gaza who have lost partial or total hearing due to exposure to explosions and heavy shelling. Shockwaves are the leading cause of inner ear trauma, along with related traumatic brain injuries and severe psychological shock. Data from rehabilitation centers in Gaza shows that before the war, about 20,000 people were estimated to live with hearing disabilities. However, field workers warn that the number has surged, with estimates reaching 30,000-40,000 people with hearing loss or impairment, including many children. These groups face severe challenges due to the collapse of the health system, damaged rehabilitation centers, and limited access to hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Organizations supporting deaf and hearing-impaired people also report a shortage of devices, batteries, and cochlear implant parts due to import restrictions. Many rehabilitation centers providing speech therapy and psychological and educational support have been damaged or closed. During the war, survival often depends on hearing warnings such as explosions, aircraft, or evacuation orders. When hearing is lost, children lose this "warning system," making them unable to detect danger or respond in time.

That is the issue for Usaid al-Shami, three years old, who lost nearly all hearing when he was about four months old. His mother, Mariam, said his daily life is fraught with danger. "He was attacked by a dog because he couldn't hear it barking," she said. "The other children around him ran away, but he didn't. He couldn't hear them. Only God's mercy saved him." She added that Usaid has also narrowly escaped traffic accidents many times because he cannot hear cars or motorcycles. "I live in constant fear and anxiety, as if I am in another war within the war."

Fadel Kuraz, a sign language interpreter and disability rights activist in Gaza with the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, said the scale of the crisis has increased significantly since the war began. Kuraz explained that the number of people with hearing loss or impairment was estimated at around 20,000 before the war, but has now risen to about 35,000. "Due to the continuous explosions and shelling, the number has increased significantly," Kuraz said. "These individuals cannot integrate into society or communicate with their surroundings."

A step in the right direction would be access to essential hearing devices, from hearing aids and batteries to maintenance equipment, as well as cochlear implants. But the Israeli blockade, which has not been fully lifted despite the ceasefire since October, has led to a severe shortage of medical equipment. "Current policies prevent the import of assistive devices, cochlear implants, and spare parts, making the situation significantly worse," Kuraz said. According to him, many centers that used to provide diagnostic and rehabilitation services have been destroyed or are no longer operational. "We are facing a real disaster," he said. "Even hearing aid batteries are no longer available. People cannot find the simplest items to operate their devices." He warned that if this continues, an entire generation of children risks losing the ability to acquire language and communicate naturally.

Wateen is currently attending speech and hearing therapy sessions at Hamad Hospital in Gaza, where specialists try to train her to respond to sounds. She has been provided with two hearing aids, which have partially improved her response to some sounds. However, doctors emphasize that hearing aids are not the final solution. Both Wateen and Usaid need cochlear implant surgery, which can only be performed outside Gaza. Israel continues to restrict permits for Palestinians in Gaza to leave the territory, even for medical treatment. Doctors recommend cochlear implant surgery be performed before the age of five for maximum effectiveness.

Wateen's mother, Mariam, explained that time has become a constant source of anxiety. "I think about it day and night," the mother said, her voice filled with exhaustion and fear. "Not just today... I always think about the future. How will she hear? How will she learn? How will she speak?" At home, the family tries to surround Wateen with special care. "The other children understand each other, they talk and laugh, while she just sits looking at them in silence." In those moments, the mother feels her daughter perceives the barrier separating her from the world around her. "I want nothing... Absolutely nothing," the mother said, struggling to hold back tears. "Only for her to go and receive a cochlear implant."