Mysuru/Mysore:  It is every parent’s dream to have a healthy baby and they are ready to do anything for it. The baby in the womb feels and experiences the activities and the environment of the mother which includes the air she breathes, people she talks to, music she listens to, food she eats and the emotions she feels. These experiences influence the overall physical development of the baby in the womb.

Hearing is a crucial sense in such interactions. The development of the ear and hearing functions take place throughout the 9 months and it is important that the expecting mothers learn about few simple yet important tips to ensure normal development of ear and hearing. Normal hearing is important for the child’s speech-language, academic and emotional development. In India, 5 to 6 children of every 1,000 children born are with congenital hearing loss making it a high prevalent condition. Though the conditions are unavoidable, precautions during the pregnancy period and appropriate parental education could reduce the occurrence of hearing loss and if not so, at least reduce the consequences of it by providing timely treatment at the earliest.  

The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, is a premier institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Institute strives to minimise the occurrence of hearing loss among the citizens of the country.  Therefore, as one of the many noble activities being carried out as part of ‘World Hearing Day’ celebrations, an orientation programme to the expecting mothers in Mysuru and surrounding places is arranged on Sunday, 16th February, at AIISH between 10.30 am and 12 noon.

The programme aims to provide few simple tips to be followed by expecting mothers to facilitate normal development of the ear and hearing.  Lunch will be provided for the participants and one accompanying person. 

For registration, contact Department of POCD, AIISH on Ph: 0821-2502312/703 or Mob: 80509-51586, according to a press release from A.R. Keerthi, PRO, AIISH.