Journey of hearing health care in India: Historical perspectives

Abstract

The article presents a brief history on the evolution of Hearing Health Care in India. March 3rd, 2021 witnessed the launch of the world report on hearing by the World Health Organization as part of the observation of world hearing day with a special theme for 2021- “Hearing Care for all.” With the estimated prevalence rates of 5.67%–16.5% among all disabilities in India, hearing impairment impacts the country's overall development with a significant economic burden. Hearing health care received more attention during the 1960s with the establishment of specialized nodal centers in 1964 in India. India witnessed a spurt in the growth of hearing health care sector during the 1980s with the development and application of technology. There was an official launch of the trial of indigenous Cochlear Implants designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization of India in 2020. Currently, in India, there are both private and public domains in hearing care services with more than 6000 registered professionals in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. With the vast diversity of population and culture, limitation of centers to the urban area, and lack of trained professionals in hearing health care in rural areas, there is a need to reach to the unreached population with hearing problems.

Keywords

• epidemiology of hearing impairment
• hearing health care
• scope and practice of audiology