« Foxy Brown fires attorney for talking about deafness | Main | Deaf community alerts DPP of 'dubious' interpreter »
December 8, 2005
Early detection key to checking the problem in India
Please Repeat! Say it Again are the common phrases we hear in day to day conversation without realizing that it could all have to do with hearing loss. Doctors say around 10 to 12 per cent of the Indian population suffers from some degree of hearing loss. But delay in detection of the ailment and taboos attached to hearing aids are further compounding the problem.
However, alarmed at the numbers, the government has chalked out a National Hearing Conservation Programme to help in early detection of the problem and its treatment, says Dr T S Sidhu, head, department of ENT, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, here.
Various surveys are being conducted nationwide to ascertain the extent of the problem. Once the National Hearing Conservation Programme is announced, we would have specialised doctors and funding for the ailment, says Dr Sidhu.
The programme is being designed on the lines of National Blindness Control Programme, which has proved to be a success, he says.
Hearing loss is the most neglected ailment today, especially in rural areas, where there are no specialized doctors available at the primary level, and these people are most of the time unable to reach the secondary or tertiary level, he says, noting untreated middle ear infections, poor health check ups, wax in the ear, bathing in dirty water and upper respiratory tract problem further compound the problem.
Source: http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$all/A5C180EACEC6DE92652570D100229387
Posted by 4HL on December 8, 2005 6:54 AM
Send this article to a friend