The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Detecting deafness early

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Monday, Jun 16, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Detecting deafness early

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

HELPING HAND: Shankar Medikeri, surgeon, and actor Vishnuvardhan at the launch of Shishu Shravana helpline in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: When nine-month-old Ajay made his first attempt at calling out to his mother, it brought great delight to all his family members. But his babble did not continue for long.

Ajay would not react to any sound nor respond when people called out to him. His worried parents, on consulting the doctor learned that their child was suffering from a hearing impairment. A cochlear implant was immediately done to restore the sense of hearing. Though this technology has rewarding effects, doctors say that early detection will enable the child have better cognitive abilities.

“Deafness can be detected within hours of birth. It is important that detection and treatment of hearing loss is initiated at a young age because the best age for a child to learn to speak is from birth to three years,” says Shankar Medikeri, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Sagar Hospital.

Children learn to speak their language only at a young age. As they grow, the neural plasticity of the brain diminishes.

When deafness is not detected early and treated early, it could result in speech impairment too.

International research studies have shown that children diagnosed before six months and who receive appropriate and consistent treatment have significantly better language levels than children diagnosed after six months.

Deafness can be detected in children early with modern diagnostic instruments such as an Oto Acoustic Cochlear machine (OAC) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) system that help diagnose such defects in the child during the neo-natal screening procedures.

In several countries, including Canada and Australia, screening newborns for deafness is compulsory. However, the audiological assessment and surgery should be backed by post-operative auditory verbal therapy. An early auditory rehabilitation helps hearing impaired children to overcome their disability.

Actor Vishnuvardhan inaugurated the Shishu Shravana helpline Ph: 65771212. Naveen Benakappa, a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, spoke.

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