AIISH helping people with communication disorders

The city-based All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) serving people, especially children with communication disorders, is celebrating its 53rd annual day on August 9.

To mark the occasion, inauguration of the computer centre, eye-tracking lab, equipment for vestibular system evaluation and NBS centres; and the release of the institute’s annual report, survey report of communication disorders, and newborn screening card, will be held. Presentation of AIISHian of the year award, felicitation of employees, who have completed 25 years of service, PhD awardees, meritorious students, and retired employees, will also be part of the celebrations.

AIISH, established in 1965, for human resource development, research, clinical services, and public education in the field of communication disorders, completes 53 years of its journey on August 9, 2018. Dr Martin F Palmer, Director of the Institute of Logopedics, Wichita, Kansas, USA, who was invited by the Union government in 1963, recommended setting up of an Institute of Logopedics in India, specifically at Mysuru (Mysore then). On August 9, 1965, All India Institute of Logopedics started functioning at Rama Mandira, a rented building, with Lt Gen B M Rao as the first director.

S Radhakrishnan, then President, laid the foundation stone of the institute building on July 25, 1966.

On October 2, 1966, an MSc programme in Speech and Hearing, the first of its kind in India, was initiated under affiliation from the University of Mysore. On October 10, 1966, the institute was registered as ‘All India Institute of Speech and Hearing’, an ‘autonomous body’ under Societies Registration Act. Now, AIISH is a premier establishment in the whole of South Asia, in the field of communication disorders.

Director of AIISH S R Savithri said, “Over the last 53 years, the growth of the institute has been phenomenal on four fronts — academic, research, clinical services and advocacy. It offers 17 academic programmes, including one certificate programme, three diploma programmes, two undergraduate programmes, four post-graduate (PG) diploma programmes and three PG programmes. Besides, it offers three PhD programmes and post-doctoral fellowships.”

She said, “AIISH is recognised as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the area of ‘Deafness’ by WHO, as a ‘Centre for Advanced Research’ by UGC, as a ‘Science and Technology Institute’ by Union DST, as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as a ‘College with potential for Excellence’ by the UGC and is accredited by NAAC with the highest A grade. AIISH obtained ISO 9001:2015 in 2016-17. It is recognised as a Nodal Centre for implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare”.

“The complete diagnostic and therapeutic services, focussed on holistic rehabilitation of persons with communication disorders, are provided under one roof at nominal costs by experienced professionals. Its alumni have made a mark all over the world, its clinical services have crossed geographical barriers and people from across the country have been benefitted,” she said.

“AIISH is conducting a diploma programme through video-conferencing at nine medical colleges at various parts of the country. Besides, AIISH provides mentoring to three institutes — RIMS, Imphal; JIPMER, Puducherry; and NSBMC, Jabalpur; under the BASLP programme. AIISH also provides tele-rehabilitation and tele-diagnosis services at these centres. It has five outreach centres to extend its services to the masses — Akkihebbalu, Hullahalli, Humballi, Sagar and Sargur — and 10 newborn screening for communication disorders. It also conducts camps across the country to reach the unreached,” Savithri said.

The 53rd annual day will be held on August 9 at 10.30 am at AIISH Seminar Hall, Knowledge Park, Naimisham Campus.

Director General of the Administrative Training Institute Kapil Mohan, Vice-Chancellor of Bengaluru North University T D Kemparaju, and State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities V S Basavaraju will be guests, said A R Keerthi, PRO of AIISH. Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, Director of Rangayana, and Vaishnavi Gangubai Hanagal, Hindustani classical musician will be guests for the cultural programme, which will be held at 6 pm on the same day at AIISH, Gymkhana
Auditorium, Panchavati Campus.