As per a 2011 census, India has more than 50 lakh citizens with some form of hearing loss
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has declared September 26 as World Day of the Deaf. Globally, this week is observed as the ‘International Week of the Deaf’ by World Federation of the Deaf to raise awareness on hearing impairment.
Despite being the second most common cause of disability after locomotor disability in the country, hearing impairment is often treated low profile. Although some hospitals around India voluntarily recommend newborn screening to detect any form of congenital hearing impairment; responsiveness yet remains near to the ground.
According to WHO, hearing loss is the most widespread sensory deficit in humans today. Globally, around 5 per cent of the population which is 360 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss. As per the 2011 census, in India, more than 50 lakh citizens have some form of hearing loss.
Australian cricket icon, Brett Lee, was announced as Cochlear’s first Global Hearing Ambassador in 2015. Lee’s target is to raise awareness about hearing loss. As Cochlear’s Ambassador, Lee has been spearheading a ‘Sounds of Cricket’ campaign to raise awareness of the significant medical, social and economic impacts hearing loss can have on individuals and their families. He visited India twice in the last one year and interacted with hundreds of hearing impaired children, Cochlear implant recipients as well as their families.
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) has been made mandatory in developed countries where there is a greater emphasis on investment in the health sector. India has to work towards including UNHS in the list of mandatory health screening procedures for newborns. In contrast, children in countries where UNHS is implemented are able to take corrective measures through early intervention within six months of age. There is an urgent need to amplify the magnitude of conversations and increase awareness on need and importance for newborn hearing screening.
EH News Bureau
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