Telangana Audiologists and Speech – Language Pathologists Association (TASLPA), a professional association of Audiologist & Speech Pathologist working in Telangana and a branch of Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA), is hosting Free Hearing Testing Camps from 4th to 6th March 2020 throughout the State of Telangana, to commemorate the World Hearing Day (March 3rd).
Hearing is important to speech and language development and to learning. When a child has difficulty hearing, early diagnosis and intervention is the key to success in children with hearing loss. According to WHO (2018) data, the prevalence of hearing impairment (HI) in India is around 6.3% (63 million people suffering from significant auditory loss). The estimated prevalence of adult-onset deafness in India is 7.6% and childhood-onset deafness is 2%. A person is said to have hearing loss if they are not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears. It can be mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or profound, and can affect one or both ears. Hearing loss has multiple potential causes: genetic factors, complications at birth, infectious disease, chronic ear infections, usage of certain drugs, exposure to excessive noise, and aging.
On World Hearing Day 2020, World Health Organization highlights that timely and effective interventions can ensure that people with hearing loss are able to achieve their full potential. The key messages for World Hearing Day 2020 are : 1. At all life stages, communication and good hearing health connect us to each other, our communities, and the world. 2. For those who have hearing loss, appropriate and timely interventions can facilitate access to education, employment and communication. 3. Globally, there is lack of access to interventions to address hearing loss, such as hearing aids. And 4. Early intervention should be made available through the health systems.
Hearing testing is safe, Painless and easy, which is performed by a trained Audiologist and Speech Therapist takes care of the speech development in the child. Hearing can be tested at all ages.
The Camps will be held at multiple locations of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, besides Karimnagar, Bodhan, Mancherial, Godavarikhani, Khammam, Mahabubnagar amongst others. Interested public can contact the Therapist closest to them and get a free check up.