Nat’l conference on neonatal deafness

Amritsar, August 12, Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences organised its first national conference themed ‘Screening of universal neonatal deafness (SOUND) for early identification and intervention of children with hearing impairment for facilitating societal inclusion on Sunday.

It is the first private university empanelled under the ‘Assistance to disabled persons for purchase or fitting of aids and appliances’ (ADIP), a Central Government scheme.

Dr Manjit Singh Uppal, Director, SGRD University, said under this project, the university was screening 180 newborn children on an average monthly for deafness, using OAE test. The newborns and those came for immunisation are being screened bedside as well as in ENT–OPD to identify deaf children. Regular camps are being organised in nearby villages as well as civil hospitals to screen deaf children. Early identification of deaf children leads to early treatment.”

Dr AK Sinha said an estimate showed that in India, around 35,000 children needed cochlear implant annually. The Central Government has made a provision to sponsor 500 needy under the scheme which is a minuscule number as compared to actual requirement. Till date, more than 1,000 cochlear implant surgeries have been successfully conducted in the country, under the ADIP scheme. He opined it was heartening that public sector undertakings and corporate sectors were coming forward to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities by helping the persons with disabilities (divyangjans).