Sri Vijaya Puram, July 16: A special Awareness and Empowerment session on hearing aid was organized for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) and their parents today at Government Secondary School, Junglighat, under the guidance of the Director (Education) through a hybrid model — combining virtual interaction and offline assessment.
The virtual session was graced by Dr. Ravi Kapoor, eminent Audiologist & Speech-Language Pathologist from Govt. Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. With vast experience in clinical practice, research, and teaching, Dr. Ravi Kapoor enlightened the participants on various aspects of hearing impairment — including types of hearing loss, correct usage and maintenance of hearing aids. Simultaneously, an offline speech and hearing screening was also conducted by Ms. Sakshi Baidya, Speech Therapist. Working in close coordination with the Director (Education), she examined each child and checked their hearing aids for functionality and fitting. Personalized support and feedback were given on-the-spot.
A total of 18 children with hearing impairment from South Andaman and Wimberlygunj Zone participated in the program. Each of them underwent individual hearing aid checks and speech-language assessments as part of the offline session.
Many children and parents were given hearing aids and the highlight of the program was a remarkable breakthrough where one child who had never used a hearing aid before responded for the first time after being fitted and tested during the session. The child’s response brought joy and hope to both parents and educators, showcasing the real-time impact of such interventions.
At the end of the session, Ms. Sakshi Baidya, Speech Therapist also conducted a live demonstration on how to properly fit and use hearing aids, making it easier for parents and Special Educators to understand its application and daily use.
The Director (Education) appreciated the efforts of the Medical and Education teams and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to empower every child with the right tools and support.