Organization: All India Institute of Speech and Hearing
Title: Awareness & Capacity Building for Teachers and Early Hearing Screening of Anganwadi and Primary School Children
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Awareness & Capacity Building for Teachers and Early Hearing Screening of Anganwadi and Primary School Children
Description:
AIISH under its community outreach initiatives PrAAYAS and SAARTHI, has adopted two districts, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara in Karnataka State for early hearing screening and capacity building of Anganwadi and primary school teachers, in collaboration with the respective district administrations.
The program is implemented in a phase-wise manner and is aligned with national initiatives of the Government of India, including the School Health & Wellness Programme, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD), which emphasize early identification, timely intervention, and prevention of hearing impairment.
In the first phase, Anganwadi and primary school teachers are trained on hearing disorders and associated speech and language disorders in children. The training focuses on developmental milestones, early warning signs (red flags), preventive strategies, and awareness of available diagnostic and rehabilitation services. Teachers are also oriented to use a standardized and validated screening checklist to identify children at-risk for hearing and communication disorders. In the second phase, children identified through teacher-led screening undergo detailed screening at their schools by qualified professionals – Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists. Based on the findings, children are referred for further diagnostic assessment, intervention, and rehabilitation through appropriate service delivery systems in subsequent phases.
These activities are aligned with World Hearing Day 2026, reflecting the global theme “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children”, with the call to action “Act now so no child is left behind due to ear or hearing problems.” Through this initiative, AIISH, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, aims to empower teachers as frontline service providers, strengthen community-based early detection mechanisms, and support national and global efforts toward inclusive child health and education.
Primary site: SEAR- India
Region: SEAR
General Photos
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: children and adolescents
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: No
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: No