Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday virtually inaugurated six new ‘Outreach Service Centres for Communication Disorders’ across the country, including one at the AIIMS Bhubaneswar, by the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru on the occasion of World Hearing Day. Dr Vardhan said, “The number of individuals existing with such disorders and the lack of professionals and specialists to cater the need for this population warrants the need for initiation of Outreach Service Centres in the hospitals across the country.

 This will enable early identification and diagnosis of communication disorder and early intervention, thereby preventing further deficits in speech, language and cognition and facilitating the overall development of the child.” He added, “Newborn screening, school screening and sensitisation programmes for general public about different communication disorders, need for early identification & intervention should be included as a part of the outreach activity to promote early identification and early intervention of Communication disorders.” He also raised awareness about the dangers of continuous loud noise and the impact it can have on the ocular health of people. On noise-induced hearing loss, he said, “This is a sensitive issue and we should work on it.

Those who oppose blaring noise and sounds beyond 10 pm are aware of the grave danger this persistent noise has on the ear health of everyone.”