Deafness is as severe a disease as blindness. However, it suffers from a lack of public awareness, primarily because it is an invisible disability. A deaf child is unable to interact with his or her own family and, as a result, anger and frustration often become an integral part of his/her growing up years.

As a part of its commitment to achieve early detection of hearing loss, the KEM Hospital has established a Universal Hearing Screening programme, the only one in Maharashtra. Every baby born at KEM Hospital is assessed for hearing loss before discharge. This facility is available to babies born outside the KEM Hospital also. Contact Anuradha at 020- 66037482 between 9am and 4 pm for an appointment if you wish to bring your baby for testing.

Post surgery there is an integral rehabilitation program varying from a year to 18 months during which the cochlear implanted child must undergo training in listening and speaking. The child is then able to develop near normal speech and language skills enabling him/ her to become part of mainstream society.