NNSL (JAN 08/97) - People in the Northwest Territories have twice as much hearing loss as people south of 60.

"No one can put their finger on the exact reason why," said Jim Selinger, audiologist for the Stanton Regional Hospital. "But aboriginal people are at great risk of loosing their hearing."

Middle ear infections usually go with hearing loss, and hearing loss in kids leads to speech problems and learning disabilities.

This is why Selinger and his new associate, Raeanne Rowswell, visit 10 communities and handle a caseload of between 1,700 and 1,800 people a year.

Besides illnesses such as measles and mumps, genetic background and noise cause hearing loss.

And Northerners have a noisy lifestyle.

People shoot guns, drive snowmachines or all terrain vehicles for hours at a time. Chainsaws used for long periods of time can cause hearing loss as well.

Then there's all the noisy Northern jobs connected with construction or mining, both with blasting or heavy, loud equipment. Waiters, bartenders and musicians are at risk as well.

"Noise-induced hearing loss is gradual," Selinger said. "And let's face it helmets and hoods don't protect ear drums, ear plugs do."

The only answer to hearing loss is prevention and education. Although 98 per cent of people over 60 have a hearing loss, it can be prevented to a degree.

Northerners have had visiting audiologists from Edmonton for 15 years before Selinger arrived on the scene eight years ago to monitor hearing loss and decide whether hearing aids or surgery was the answer.

The clinic in Yellowknife is well equipped, if not better than southern counterparts, Selinger said. That's thanks to $200,000 donated by the local Elks Lodge for equipment.