When it comes to speech and hearing impairment in children, it is a myth that a wait-and-watch policy would work, said Radhika Poovayya, director, Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing.
“The myth that a child will eventually begin talking is a myth. There may be exceptional cases when a child begins talking at the age of five. But this is an exception rather than a rule. When the parent decides to wait, serious conditions of hearing loss, autism, development delay go undetected,” she said.
Adding that early detection is the best way to tackle the problem, she said: “A delay in identifying the problem has a profound impact and can be traumatic during the child’s growing years,” she said.
Although an estimated 6 % to 8% of children have speech and hearing disabilities, the awareness with regard to helping the child is very less. “The benefit of early detection is that, with proper training, the child can be incorporated into a mainstream school. Even children suffering from autism, development delay and cerebral palsy can learn to communicate and interact with their family.”
While it is easier for a child to adapt to such circumstances, when it comes to an adult, a sudden loss in his or her ability to communicate can be very traumatic. “In such cases, therapy can help to a large extent in correcting a problem,” she said. “Having a stroke is hard enough. But losing your ability to stand on your own feet to tell people how you feel or what you need, can make the situation much worse. Regular therapy can help in the recovery.”
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