Mysore/Mysuru: As part of World Hearing Day (Mar. 3), All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in association with the Railway Medical Department conducted a hearing screening camp for Railway employees at Mysuru Divisional Office of South Western Railway. 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), 466 million persons have disabling hearing loss — 6.1 percent of world’s population. Among them 93 percent are adults and seven percent children. Approximately one-third of persons over 65 years are known to have disabling hearing loss. 

The camp was conducted using screening audiometer that indicates the presence or absence of hearing loss and immittance instrument to measure the middle ear function.  A common difficulty identified among participants was reduced hearing sensitivity, especially in the elderly. A total of 160 staff participated in the camp and among them 26 were referred to AIISH for further detailed evaluation. 

The programme was co-ordinated by Dr. D.C. Pradeep, Assistant Chief Medical Superintendent, Railway Hospital, Mysuru with AIISH team under the aegis of Shreyank P. Swamy, lecturer in Audiology, AIISH. 

 Dr. G.S. Ramachandra, Railway Hospital Chief Medical Superintendent, was present.