PUNE: Genetics is one of the major reasons why children suffer hearing loss at the time of birth, said Dr Neelam Vaid. She was interacting during the Big Ears graduation ceremony, where 57 children, who received Cochlear implants in 2012 and 2013, were present. These children are now ready to become part of the mainstream.

Speaking about why the graduation ceremony is inducted now, Vaid said that these children need special care by therapists and audiologists over the years to get normal.

“The graduation ceremony marks the day when the child is fit to set foot in the world, without the constant guidance of therapists. Today, the child can go mainstream. So far, we were able to send 96 per cent children to normal schools. Out of all the children coming to us, 40 per cent have had a hearing disorder,” noted Vaid.

She also highlighted that marriages in the same family can be one of the reasons for this disorder.

“It is genetic among Indians. Another thing that should be noticed is that children, who are born with less than 1,500 grams of body weight, can have this disorder. It is advisable to undergo a test after a baby is born to detect this early and give proper care to the child. However, awareness about this is lacking,” said Vaid.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, Vaid said that every week, there are at least two children who approach them with this problem.

“Big Ears was the first Cochlear Implant centre in Pune, offering all the services related to Cochlear implantation for children, who suffer hearing loss from birth. The Big Ears team of surgeons, audiologists, speech and language therapists and counsellors, work alongside the parents and families of mostly underprivileged children. The clinic also celebrates the completion of 435 Cochlear implant surgeries performed across 12 years,” informed Vaid.