NISH plans hearing assessment camps

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Institute for Speech and Hearing impaired (NISH), Akkulam, will organise statewide assessment camps for the hearing impaired. The camps will be organised mainly to distribute hearing aids to the eligible people.  This is for the second time NISH will be holding hearing assessment camps across the state. The camps will be held as part of the Assistive Technology for Disabled People (ADIP) scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The main objective of the ADIP scheme is to assist the needy, disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential.  ‘’The detailed proposal for the organisation of the camps has already been submitted to the Ministry. The funds required for the camps will be allotted for each district. The duration of the camp will be finalised according to the need,’’ says Samuel Mathew, Director, NISH. The camps will be conducted jointly by the audiologists and students of NISH. Once the hearing aids and other related equipments are procured, the  team will travel from one district to another organising camps. The team will collaborate with an NGO in each district for arranging the assessment camps. The people will be diagnosed and the hearing impairments will be detected. The aids and equipments will be distributed to the eligible people according to the varying nature of hearing defects. In case the team cannot supply the equipments at the camp itself, the ear mould of the person will be prepared. This mould will be brought to the NISH laboratory for detailed study by the audiologists. The required aids will then be imported to NISH and then sent to the NGO who associated with the camp in a particular district. The person can then have the aid from the NGO.  ‘’This is essentially a part of the initiatives of the government to help the disabled people. We are just being instrumental in such efforts to integrate the hearing impaired into the mainstream of the society,’’ adds Samuel Mathew.  NISH is expecting the funds hopefully by the end of September and the camps will commence as soon as the funds are received.