Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

`Do not ignore deafness in children'

Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE: Deafness in children should be identified and treated early, Dr. V. Anand, Consultant ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon, MCV Memorial ENT Trust Hospital, Pollachi, said here recently.

Inaugurating India Deaf Expo 2007, an international conference organised by Deaf Leaders and Dr.Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi, Dr. Anand said that more than 20,000 children were born in the country with profound hearing loss every year.

Most parents ignored deafness in children and shied away from taking them to a specialist thinking that the child's hearing would improve with age, he said. This was a misconception. Also, sudden hearing loss in children should be recognised early and treatment should be sought within seven days, he said. Children who were born deaf should be treated within one to two years. This was because till the age of five, children could record speech in their brain. But, there after their brain could only play back the sounds, Dr.Anand explained.

Possibilities

The possibilities for treatment of deafness had also improved over the years. Hearing aids that cost more than Rs.50,000 ten years ago now cost between Rs.10,000 and 12,000. Invisible hearing aids were also available. But, their cost was a disadvantage and they were not a substitute for cochlear implant.

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