Mysuru: Over 500 people, including parents of special children, participated in a walkathon organized by All-India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) here on Saturday.
The participants, including AIISH staff, students and members of NGOs like Let's Do It! Mysore and MYRA, sported T-shirts having slogans on the disorders. As per a World Health Organization report, 6.3% of Indian population suffers from hearing impairment.
AIISH conducted the walkathon to spread awareness on the ways and means of preventing/ dealing with the disorders.
AIISH director S R Savithri told reporters that the Supreme Court has given 3% reservation in employment for specially-abled persons, and 1% for the hearing-impaired. "But due to the lack of awareness among people, the reservation is not being availed," she added.
Speaking on various types of communication disorders, which can be detected by parents in early stages to provide proper treatment, Savithri said: "There are technologically advanced instruments which can detect the disorders even in newborn babies. In developed countries, universal screening system is in place, wherein all newborns are screened for defects in the system. This will help special children get treatment in the early stages itself."
AIISH speech therapist Rekha said that children with hearing loss go through several social problems. "So parents should get their children treated at the institute," she added.
AIISH speech language pathology student Swathi J said people in urban get access to treatment, "but those in rural areas lack awareness on treatment and the facilities where they are available". AIISH outreach centres are spreading awareness among rural people.
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