An international hearing health conference being held in Chennai is focusing on inclusion, early screening, rehabilitation and low-cost technology as experts address the limited access to hearing services faced by children and adults in India.
The 16th international conference of the Coalition of Global Hearing Health is taking place from October 9 to 11 at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research. Its theme is ‘Fostering Inclusiveness, Changing Mindsets’.
The Coalition of Global Hearing Health is an international network of clinicians, researchers, advocates and people with hearing loss. The conference is examining the full chain of hearing care, from screening and diagnosis to outcomes across the lifespan, according to information released about the event.
Hearing loss affects more people in India than is commonly recognised. The country has roughly 1.25 lakh to 1.5 lakh children born with hearing loss every year, but only a few receive the education and rehabilitation support they need, the release said.
Access to support is also uneven. Speech and auditory-verbal therapy is largely confined to urban areas, while sign language education remains underfunded. The gap makes the availability and affordability of services a central concern for families seeking support for children with hearing loss.
The conference is also addressing unsafe listening practices, which are contributing to hearing loss among young people. Its agenda includes community services, health systems, economics, clinical services, innovations and low-cost technology, alongside discussions on screening and care across different stages of life.
The focus on community services and health systems places hearing care within the wider question of how specialised health services reach people outside major urban centres. While Chennai provides a setting for clinicians, researchers and advocates to meet, the information released for the conference identifies a continuing disparity between urban access to therapy and the availability of broader support.
Darez Ahamed, Health Secretary, Tamil Nadu, was the chief guest at the inauguration. Shelly Chadha, technical lead for ear and hearing care at the World Health Organization, was the guest of honour.
The conference is scheduled to continue through October 11, with sessions covering screening, services, clinical care, innovations and low-cost approaches to hearing health.
