Organization: Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital
Title: Hearing care for every child: School based activities for promoting ear and hearing care.
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Hearing care for every child: School based activities for promoting ear and hearing care.
Description:
Theme: From Communities to classrooms: Hearing care for all children
Program organizers: Faculty of audiology and speech language pathology and Department of ENT, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai from 2nd march to 7th March 2026
Program description:
Activity 1: Hearing screening camp at SBMCH
A hearing screening camp was conducted in general OPD of SBMCH from 2/03/2026 to 6/03/2026. A ten item checklist related to hearing was filled and hearing screening was conducted using HearWHO app for 126 participants. 30 referred for detailed assessment. The WHO’s educational materials in Tamil were distributed to all the participants.
Activity 2: School screening camp for children at primary school
A one-day school screening camp for children in a private school between the age group of 5 and 10 years of age was conducted on 5/03/2026. i) Otoscopic examination by ENT ii) puretone audiometry screening using standard screening audiometer (500 Hz to 4000 Hz at 35 dB HL) was carried out in a quiet room for 105 children. 1 child was referred for detailed evaluation. The educational materials and pamphlets were distributed to the teachers.
Activity 3: Empowerment program for teachers of children with hearing impairment at school for hearing impairment
A collaborative activity with Government middle school for hearing impairment, Tambaram sanatorium was organized on 5/03/2026. Teachers empowerment session on i) care, maintenance and trouble shooting of hearing aids/cochlear implants, ii) Basics and importance of auditory training was conducted by an audiologist as a 1 hour session. A total of 8 teachers participated in the session. A coloring activity was conducted for 30 children with hearing impairment. The educational materials for teachers, parents and for children in Tamil and English were distributed at the end of the program.
Activity 4: Parent empowerment session and hearing screening camp for children with cleft lip and palate
A collaborative activity was planned with cleft and craniofacial center, at SBMCH on 07/03/2026. A parent empowerment session for 1 hour on ear and hearing care related to children with cleft lip and palate, importance of audiological and otological monitoring. Followed by this, a hearing screening camp for 16 children with cleft lip and palate using pure tone audiometry at 500 Hz to 4 kHz (above 3 years of age) (pass criteria of 30 dB HL) and a DPOAE screening and immittance audiometry (below 3 years of age) was carried out. Ten children were referred for detailed evaluation. A drawing activity was also conducted. The educational pamphlets were distributed to all the parents.
Primary site: SEAR- India
Region: SEAR
Secondary sites:Tamil Nadu, South India
Impactful Story:
A series of activities were carried out targeting a diverse group in the community. A hospital based public hearing screening camp (126 beneficiaries), school based hearing screening (105 children; 5-10 year’s old) and in collaboration with Government middle school for hearing impairment an empowerment session for teachers was conducted. A parent empowerment session and hearing screening camp for children with cleft lip/ palate was conducted at cleft and craniofacial center. Hear WHO app was used for hearing screening in adults. Awareness materials and pamphlets were translated in vernacular for distribution. These along with activities were shared in social media.
General Photos
Hearing screening camp at SBMCH
Parents empowerment program at cleft and craniofacial center
School screening camp for children at primary school
Teachers empowerment program at government middle school HI
Types of Engagement:
Live event: No
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: No
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: persons with disabilities (including hearing loss), Children with Cleft lip and palate
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: No