MYSURU: “No one in this world deserves to live in silence. I strongly believe that everybody deserves to hear the sounds of life,” said Brett Lee , former international cricketer and Global Hearing ambassador with Cochlear, an implantable hearing solutions company.Over 2.35 lakh people in Karnataka suffer from profound hearing impairment. Brett Lee believes technology is transforming the experience of deafness. “Parents and family members should not ignore the smallest signs of hearing loss and should take speedy action,” said the cricketer who was in the city and is spearheading a global campaign to raise awareness about hearing loss ever since an accident temporarily impaired his son's hearing.“I have personally witnessed how an implant takes a person from silence to sound. It is a life changing moment,” said the Aussie pacer.Stressing on the importance of early intervention, especially in the case of children, Lee lauded Kerala’s efforts, a first in the country, to screen children for hearing loss in 66 government maternity centres. “There is an urgent need to make newborn screening test for hearing mandatory as well as educating parents of children with hearing loss so that they the problem is dealt with at the earliest,” addedLee’s son was five when he had a fall and fractured a part of his skull. The injury was close to his ear and led to hearing loss in one of the ears which was later restored. This incident made him realize that no one deserves to live in silence.Dr HA Dathathri, consultant- ENT, head and neck surgery, ColumbiaAsia Hospital, Mysuru, said, “Our country lacks public awareness about hearing loss. There was a time when children with hearing loss had to learn and master sign language and adjust to a life without sound. But that does not hold true anymore. The newborn screening program is a first of its kind and an important support for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. A child as young as 12 months of age can receive cochlear implants that can potentially restore hearing.”

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