The AP government plans to set up the ‘Andhra Pradesh Right to Hearing Society’ to prevent and control incidence of deafness. The society is likely to be headed by the chief minister, with the health minister as its vice-chairman.

The proposed society will work towards preventing deafness by establishing and enhancing adequate infrastructure for diagnosis and management of deafness. Development of a quality ear care programme and facilities for surgical management of deaf patients is also proposed. Besides developing and offering early intervention programmes for children, it will also identify the hearing handicapped population.

It is estimated that nearly 25,000 children are born deaf or with related problems every year in India. Due to lack of screening programmes for hearing for the new born, the problem goes unidentified and renders the person permanently handicapped. Around 50 per cent of the cases could be corrected with surgery and the remaining can be helped with suitable hearing aids.

It is important to note that the AP government has already established ‘AP Right to Sight Society’ to take up an eye care programme in the state.