Dr. K.K. Ramalingam, Founder and Advisor, Indian Society of Otology,
Dr. A.P. Sambandan, President, Indian Society of Otology,
Dr. Ravi Ramalingam, Secretary,
Dr. C. Prabhakaran, Organizing Chairman,
Dr. P.K. Sharafudeen, Organizing Secretary,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
I am very happy to inaugurate ISOCON 2016, the 25th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Otology. Though the term Otology may sound unfamiliar to the masses, it is a branch of medical science that addresses a major issue in a sizeable population all over the world. Therefore, considering the gravity of the issue addressed by this branch of study, I feel this Silver Jubilee Conference has great significance.
We are all aware that medical science has developed a lot from the days of the general physician to these days of specialists. Actually, a good number of patients who approach general practitioners would be seeking treatment for some ailment related to the ear, nose or throat. For some years, we have had the ENT speciality to handle diseases of these three organs that perform important functions of swallowing, breathing, hearing, speech development, maintenance of balance, smell and taste. But, with newer developments and advanced techniques of diagnosis, we have seen Otology evolving from ENT as an independent science for the diseases of the ear.
According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, over 360 million people worldwide are disabled by hearing loss. This number is almost 5% of the world population and would consist of around 328 million adults and 32 million children. It has also been revealed that the majority of people with disabling hearing loss live in low and middle-income countries.
Coming to the situation in India, over 63 million people have been diagnosed with significant hearing impairment. In other words, four in every 1000 children in India are known to suffer from severe to profound hearing loss. Available statistics puts the number of babies born with hearing deficiency every year above one lakh and so, the signal is clear– it is high time we lent an ear to the matter, very seriously.
Though hearing impairment has severe impacts in an individual, it is grossly neglected in India, may be because the impairment is not outwardly visible. But, most of us do not realize the functional, emotional or economic impact of the problem. A child born with profound deepness will not develop speech and language abilities. The result would be a life of disadvantage in education, thus limiting opportunities for professional growth.
Different degrees of hearing loss and some ear diseases can also adversely affect the academic performance of children. Of course, there are avenues for training such children to communicate to others through written or sign language and thus participate on an equal basis with others. But, here again, we do not have enough professionals to impart such training. For instance, in Kerala, we have very few institutions offering Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, which trains people to teach the hearing impaired. And, though people can benefit from hearing aids and other devices, it is doubtful whether the current production of hearing aids is adequate.
Apart from the functional aspect, there is also the psychological impact due to limited access to services and exclusion from communication. Many people, especially the elders, are torn apart by loneliness, isolation and frustration. In some developing countries, children with hearing loss and deafness rarely receive any schooling and adults have a much higher unemployment rate. Among the employed, many people with hearing loss are in the lower grades compared with the general workforce.
This situation calls for ensuring better access to education and vocational rehabilitation services, and sensitizing employers about the needs of people with hearing loss. I remember having passed a significant verdict on giving reservations to people with disabilities. The intention was to ensure opportunities to the differentially abled, including the hearing impaired.
All these issues are enough to convince us that Otologists have a great role to play in today's society by way of providing cure to people with hearing problems. An Otologist's timely intervention not only improves a person's health, but instills confidence to face the world. Children with profound deafness are now given cochlear implant operations so as to stimulate the hearing nerves. But, such treatment procedures require expertise and high levels of precision. I am told that the area in the ear which is operated is not more than the area covered by a finger nail and this increases the element of risk. Until a few years ago, it was common for some patients undergoing ear surgery to suffer facial paralysis and regular discharge from the ears. Therefore, it is essential that surgeons are well trained for performing such tasks. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Indian Society of Otology regularly invites world class surgeons to train our doctors in the latest surgical procedures.
I compliment the Indian Society of Otologists for their efforts in perfecting the skills of their members in the latest trends in surgery. It is through such efforts that the standard of ear surgery done in India has been rated as world class. Such trainings have helped the Otologist fraternity in keeping pace with the latest trends like endoscopic ear surgeries and brain surgeries through the ear. It is also a glad tiding that about 20 operations to be performed tomorrow and the day after as part of this conference, would be done free of cost to help poor patients. In conclusion, I would suggest that the Indian Society of Otology should also work to create awareness about the need for a universal newborn hearing screening program in India. Since some of the cases of hearing impairment surface at the time of birth, a screening programme for the new born will certainly help in preventing loss of hearing.
I greet all the delegates of this Conference, especially the experts who have come from other nations to train our Otologists in surgery and wish the Conference all success.
Ellaavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
