Survey soon to identify hearing impaired

The State government will soon conduct a baseline survey across the State in each district to identify people with hearing impairment.

Speaking at the inauguration of the International Ear Care Day event at the Bangalore Medical College in the City on Monday, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that the government would conduct a baseline survey in each district to find out number of people with hearing impairment. Soon, a meeting would be held with all district health officers in this regard.

“After compiling the survey details, the government would try to bring cochlear implant surgeries under a government health scheme,” Khader said.

“Each cochlear implant surgery costs not less than Rs 12 lakh, which is not affordable for middle and marginalised classes. The government will try to come up with a policy so that we can help more patients,” he added. The minister also said that once the data was compiled, the department would seek support from the corporate sector to look into the issue.

Speaking about congenital and non-congenital hearing problems, H S Satish, Professor and Head of the department (ENT) at Victoria Hospital, said: “A patient may be able to manage with a hearing aid. But in some cases, cochlear implant surgery is the only option. The deaf patients with speaking capability may become dumb forever if these issues are not rectified.”