Mumbai: In 2003, on a visit to a school for the hearing impaired in Gujarat, speech therapist and audiologist, Devangi Dalal and ENT surgeon Dr. Jayant Gandhi saw children singing the national anthem in sign language. This disturbed them deeply. Says Ms. Dalal, “We realised that these children lacked technology-based hearing aids and hence were not able to develop their speech in the absence of good hearing.”
She says providing cheap hearing aids was at the core of the issue. “Hearing aids have to be of high quality, and have to be tailored to the child’s need. This along with rehabilitation, proper training in using the hearing aid, training in language development and counselling can help children integrate into society,”.
Every individual, says Dr. Gandhi, has “residual hearing”. Hearing loss can be minimised if this residual hearing is treated with digital hearing aids and rehabilitation; they can then hear all normal sounds and speak language that everyone can understand. “It is shocking that there are 4 to 5 million hearing impaired children in our country and very little work has been done for their upliftment.”
The two then decided to start JOSH, or Juvenile Organization of Speech & Hearing, to create awareness on the need for accurate and timely diagnosis. The founders invested Rs. 50,000 and partnered with hearing aid manufacturers and non-governmental organisations working in this space.
The Foundation started supporting four special schools in Mumbai (two in Vile Parle and one in Mahim and Dadar each) and two in Gujarat. However, they are still not able to afford hearing aids for all the children in these schools, says Ms. Dalal, “as each digital hearing aid costs around Rs. 25,000 to 30,000 (even at a concessional rate).”
Training and rehabilitation
With the help of teachers from these schools, the children are screened and on the basis of their hearing impairment, the beneficiaries are selected. Says Hemali Lalaji, a volunteer, “First preference is given to children with 80-90% hearing impairment.”
After fitting these hearing aids, auditory training along with rehabilitation, which includes language therapy, cognitive development, speech and voice therapy, is provided to these children. Says Dr. Gandhi, “These hearing aids are practically maintenance-free, and except for changing batteries and cleaning moulds, do not require special treatment.” Training is also imparted to parents and teachers on how to maintain them.
So far, with the help of donations and corporate social responsibility funds, digital hearing aids have been provided to more than 750 underprivileged children.
Bharat Chowdhary, a small shop-owner at Santa Cruz, whose daughter Bhavika (5) has been using digital hearing aid, is happy with the result. Since the two years that she has been using one, Bhavika, who had a hearing impairment (65% and 85% in each ear) since birth, has not only started hearing clearly but has started talking as well. “She now goes to a regular school and interacts freely with other kids,” he says.
Enabling integration
JOSH Foundation tries to create awareness about hearing impairment and the need for accurate and timely diagnosis through lectures, seminars, educational and informative videos and public events.
Every year, the Foundation organises events for hearing impaired children to encourage them to believe in themselves. JOSH has also introduced sports education as part of the curriculum for hearing impaired children in three special schools in the city. They provide financial aid for purchasing sports equipment as well as coaches' fees. Says Sadhana Sapre, principal Utkarsha Mandal Mook Dhvani Vidyalaya, Vile Parle, one of the beneficiaries, “This has been instrumental in making students independent and increased school attendance. It has helped boost their confidence and improved their overall personality.” After the initial impetus from JOSH, some of the schools are now funding sports education on their own.
The Foundation is working on making a professional video of the National Anthem sung by hearing impaired children. Says Dr. Gandhi, “We want it to be aired in cinema halls and multiplexes across the country.” Ms. Dalal says they would also like to start a state-of-the-art charitable institute for hearing impaired children covering all their needs. Most importantly, they would like to see the country’s architecture and mindset changing in favour of people with disabilities. “We often forget that we need to make systems disabled-friendly, so that they can live their life with dignity and with the same respect that each of us wants.”
