RAIPUR,
In India around 8.5crores people which amounts to 6.3 percent of the total population suffer deafness partially or totally. The burden more is that every year one lakh children are born with total deafness in the country. Hearing screening programme for neonates is very necessary, said India Society of Otology (ISO) President SKE Appa Rao.
Before elaborating on the health issue of deafness, Rao said that more than 40 decibel loss in adults and more than 30 decibel loss in children are partial deafness. Some children develop ear diseases due to over crowding, pollution, improper treatment and ignoring treatment and finally their hearing become defective.
“The old adage in the country signifies vision as ‘Sarvendriyanam Nayanam Pradhanam’. I want to signify hearing before it as ‘Sarvendriyanam Shravnam Pradhanam’. A blind person is cut off from the world of things, but a deaf person is cut off from the world of people and interaction,” Dr Rao said.
The ISO President further said 50 percent of the deafness reasons are preventable and another 30 percent treatable. But, noise induced deafness is only preventable, not at all curable. Hence, authorities must ensure that safety means are provided wherever required to prevent noise induced deafness.
Way back in 2013, Government of India started DEIC (District Early Intervention Centre) programme, meant for four Ds as Defect, Deficiency, Diseases and Deformities at birth. It has proved to be insufficient and more such centres are needed. Neonatal Hearing Screening is very necessary so that hearing problem/deafness is known at this early stage of life for early intervention, he added.
It may be mentioned that the 26th ISO Confrence-2017 under the aegis of Indian Society of Otology is presently underway in the state capital, featuring a live surgery workshop also. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Ajay Chandrakar and Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal graced the occasion on the other day. Dr Rao told that experts from France, Germany and China are participating in the workshop, doing surgeries and also delivering lectures. As many as 700 experts are participating.
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