Fri Mar 14 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## AIISH Mysuru’s Newborn Hearing Screening Program Identifies Rising Rates of Hearing Loss

**Mysuru, March 14, 2025** – The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysuru is reporting a concerning increase in the number of newborns diagnosed with hearing loss through its Newborn Screening (NBS) program. Recent data reveals that five out of every 1,000 babies are born with hearing loss daily, with approximately two cases resulting in permanent impairment. This represents a significant rise from previous estimates of three in 1,000.

AIISH, a leading institute in speech and hearing under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been proactively screening newborns for communication disorders, including hearing loss, before hospital discharge. The institute collaborates with numerous hospitals across Karnataka and other parts of India, screening over 60,000 infants annually using advanced technologies like otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) tests. These objective tests are crucial for early detection, as hearing loss often presents no visible symptoms.

Experts at AIISH emphasize the critical importance of early intervention within the first three years of life, aligning with the 1-3-6 rule (screening at one month, assessment at three months, and intervention at six months). They highlight that the current identification rate in India is alarmingly late, often beyond three years of age, compared to global standards advocating confirmation by two months and treatment by three months. Less than 1% of Indian newborns currently undergo hearing loss screening.

AIISH is working with the Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare to educate medical teams under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and District Early Intervention Centres (DEIC) on early screening practices. The institute is expanding its NBS program, screening over 6,000 newborns monthly in Mysuru and surrounding areas. The program comprises three stages: screening, assessment, and rehabilitation, with support and education provided to parents and caregivers. Those identified with hearing loss receive treatment at either the DEIC or AIISH.

The increased incidence of hearing loss underscores the need for widespread implementation of newborn hearing screenings, according to AIISH, to mitigate the long-term developmental challenges and societal burden associated with untreated hearing impairment.

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