Early identification of hearing loss needed: experts

“Congenital or acquired hearing loss of a severe or profound nature during the critical period of 0-3 years,severely affects the language and communication skills. This creates barriers in acquisition of functional literacy and hence academic achievement of children,” Dr Varsha Gathoo,Head,Special Education of AYJNIHH and also the convenor of the conference said.

In order to make use of the critical years of development of a child (0-3 yrs),they decided to evolve local communities and grass-root level functionaries in screening and early identification of hearing loss and other developmental delays.

There are suggestions to tie up with birth registration agencies and pulse polio programs for catching the children young. An action plan has been prepared to provide home-based early intervention programs for young babies by involving and capacity building of parents. While more than 50 years of research supports the effectiveness of intervention for infants and young children with disabilities,the World Bank (2007) reports that the Indian child urgently needs better interventional services,Gathoo said.

The report’s findings include that in spite of India having a vibrant and growing disability rights movement,the early childhood intervention and education is fragmented and does not capture the synergies across sectors,she said.

“With an aim to evolve a service delivery system for early intervention and early childhood education of young children with hearing loss,experts and stakeholders from various parts of Maharashtra assembled to exchange the ground realities at district and town levels,” Gathoo said.

The objectives was to study the ground level existing practices and needs for dealing with young children with hearing loss in the state of Maharashtra. About 80 participants,comprising government officials,principals,administrators,master trainers,special educators and individuals with hearing-loss representing almost all the districts of Maharashtra,attended the conference.

They presented the status of early intervention,provisions of special education,inclusive education,challenges of special education and issues of higher education of children with hearing impairment.