THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Noting that early intervention and awareness are most vital in tackling hearing disability, Australian cricketer Brett Lee has said that he dreams of Kerala becoming the first state to make Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) mandatory.
“UNHS is mandatory in Australia. In Kerala, we are getting to that level and it has to be extended to the private sector,” remarked Lee while interacting with students of National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) at its campus here.
The former international fast bowler, who is the Global Hearing Ambassador of hearing aid manufacturer Cochlear, was the chief guest at the event organised for creating awareness on the necessity of conducting hearing screening on newborn babies by NISH, in collaboration with Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) and Cochlear.
To a query on the affordability of the cost of cochlear implantation, Lee said since it’s a life-changing device, the government can provide assistance in the form of funds and it can closely work with hospitals to follow up. “Cost should not come as an obstacle in the way of cochlear implantation.”
Striking an emotional note, Lee also shared his agony when his five-year-old son suffered a traumatic injury as a result of landing his head on the floor, leading to hearing loss.
“He suffered hearing loss. I was mortified and upset. Those days, he had to move from the back row of the class to the front. Luckily for him, his nerve became alright after some time,” he recalled, adding such an experience made him to associate with an initiative that changes the lives of many children.
“Thanks to the rising awareness and education in India, the people are gradually aware of the social stigma that this disability generates. We want to ensure that every single child born in Kerala will have screening done for hearing,” Lee stressed.
K.G. Satheesh Kumar, Executive Director, NISH, said that UNHS has helped to identify hearing impairment at an early age. “It has also helped the children with deafness to make significant progress to acquire spoken language. Kerala is the first state to provide hearing screening for children in all government centres,” he pointed out.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mohammed Asheel, Executive Director, KSSM, and Director, National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Thrissur, said, “We plan to make UNHS mandatory for birth certificate and also for admissions to schools. We are hoping to have full participation from the private sector as well.”
Lee was presented a memento by Satheesh Kumar at the function. Reciprocating the gesture , the formidable pacer also gifted a memento to NISH. Earlier, Lee had planted a tree, christened ‘Speaking Tree’, on the NISH campus.
Jeena Mary Joy, Assistant Professor, Department of ASLP, NISH, spoke on “Role of NISH in Early Identification of Hearing Loss” at the event. Denny Sebastian, internee, Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation, proposed a vote of thanks.
