Hearing loss

Impairment of the hearing function which can be congenital or acquired in later life. Among the congenital hearing loss, 50% of them are genetically determined and 50% sporadic and non-genetic syndromes. The genetically determined are sub-classified as syndromic and non-syndromic. The syndromic group are associated with other congenital anomalies affecting bone, skin, kidney or eyes. Commonest acquired cause is due to intra-uterine infection by TORCH infection of which congenital Rubella Syndrome is important. Post-natal infection such as meningitis, encephalitis, chronic otitis-media are other causes of deafness. Deafness should be early identified and rehabilitated with appropriate hearing aids. The genome project has identified many land mark discoveries in the genetic basis of hearing loss, such as the connexin.

Structural abnormalities of the Lips Palate or Tongue

• Cleft Palate
• Hare Lip
• Tongue tie

Various oro-facial syndromes are commonest cause of speech and language disorders with or without mental sub-normality or learning disability.

Aphasia

Aphasia is an acquired loss of normal language functions following damage to specific regions of the brain, due to stroke, tumors, injury or infections. The commonest cause is a stroke and annually 0.6% becomes aphasic and more than 80% of them is due to stroke. Normally, 99% of the right-handed individual, it is due to a lesion of the left side of the brain, and also in 60% of the left-handed. Less than 1% of the right-handed and 10-15% of the left-handed, right hemi-spheric lesion can also produce aphasia. In the remaining left-handed, either hemi-spheric lesion can produce aphasia. There is no specific treatment for aphasia, other than speech therapy and retraining.

Dementia

Dementia is defined as a progressive deterioration in more than one intellectual or cognitive functions with little or no disturbance of consciousness. The impairment involves memory, language and motor executive functions. Dementia may be due to various causes, commonest is, the Alzheimer's type of dementia. More than 5% of the elderly above the age of 65 suffer from AD. The risk doubles up with every 5 year increment in life expectancy. The treatment of dementia include early detection, treatment for specific problems and conservative rehabilitation and re-education program.

THE PROMISE OF INDEPENDENCE.

The disabled can interact with every social environment in a meaningful way, sharing the joys and happiness of life. They have their own way of contributing as an active participant in all spheres of life. They can be trained, educated and employed to lead an independent life. A touch of warmth, love, affection and courage cheer them to be part of the mainstay.