Two-Day National conference on Cognition, Hearing and Speech-Language Processing

Mysuru:  Director of Medical Institutions Division of JSS Mahavidyapeetha R. Mahesh said that early detection and intervention programme is must to overcome hearing  problems.

Presiding over the inaugural function of the two-day National Conference on Cognition, Hearing and Speech-Language Processing, organised by JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing at Sri Rajendra Bhavan in city this morning, he said that hearing is a critical part of kids’ social, emotional and cognitive development in first few years of life.

Even a mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech and language properly. Such hearing loss can be treated if experts identify problems among infants, he said.

Hearing loss is a common birth defect, affecting about 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 newborns. Hearing loss is common among children born prematurely, affected with ear infection, heredity, trauma, damaging noise levels, complications at birth and other reasons. Hearing screening is must for children and teenagers he said.

He said that kids who seem to have normal hearing should continue to have their hearing evaluated regularly and hearing tests are usually done for people of all ages. “But if your child seems to have trouble in hearing, if speech development seems abnormal, or if your child’s speech is difficult to understand,  one should meet experts”, he added.

Professor in Audiology of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Dr. Asha Yathiraj, who also spoke, highlighted the importance of cognition-based assessment, methods for rehabilitation for individuals with communication disorders.

Inaugurating the conference Professor and Head of the Department of Neurology, JSS Medical College and Hospital Dr. Harsha wanted the participants to make use of the conference which throws light on the understanding the influence of cognition on hearing and speech  language processing.

Hundreds of delegates from across the country and  over 300 students from the Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neuro Sciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala,  Amrita Speech and Hearing Improvement School, JSS Dharwad Speech and Hearing Institute, JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, are participating in the meet.

Principal of JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing Suma, Director M.D. Nataraj and others were present.