| Project Name | Early Detection & Intervention for Children with Hearing Loss |
| Amount Utilized (INR) | 523000 |
| Project Description | Project Activities for which the funds were used:
1) Auditory Verbal Therapy - Most children born with hearing impairment have residual hearing; with early detection and intervention and with the help of digital hearing aids and cochlear implants along with skilled and effective Aural Habilitation they can learn to “Listen and Speak”. This in turn facilitates their integration into society as participating and contributing members.
The specific method used at AURED is known as the Auditory Verbal Approach, where no sign language or lip reading is used, to maximize outcomes, early detection and intervention is essential.
Auditory-verbal therapy emphasizes speech and listening.
2) Mapping - It is the audiological management or programming of a cochlear implant by an Audiologist. The sound frequency is adjusted depending on individual requirements. The child will be able to hear better therefore better progress.
During the first month (post implant), mapping is done once a week. Later mapping is done as per the requirement of each individual child.
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| Locations | Mumbai City > Maharashtra (MH) |
| Causes | Education > Early childhood learning |
| Beneficiary Group | Children,Persons with Disabilities |
| Beneficiary Description | When AURED first started, it was a 'mission with a struggle'. Auditory Verbal Therapy was not well known and had not been put into practice in India. There were many who were sceptical. The only support we had, was from the parents of 6 profoundly deaf children who were willing to 'experiment' with this exciting new concept of 'Listen and Speak'.
Beginning with these 6 children, today, we have over 975 children with hearing impairment enrolled at AURED and the strength of the student body is steadily increasing, ours is a zero rejection center. We teach on a one to one basis and offer a choice of four languages-English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Approximately 40% of the children also have additional disabilities.
80% of our students are taught free of cost or pay fees on a sliding scale as most of these children belong to underprivileged families. We have children referred to us from 93 cities, towns and villages, and from 19 other countries as well. We have a satellite center in Hyderabad and an affiliate center in Kenya.
We still have the same enthusiasm for each new child and family that walks into our lives, reinforcing our passion and motivation to go on.
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| Impact | Over the last 37 years, AURED has grown from 6 students in the back room of an apartment to over 975 enrolled students in a barrack at Mumbai’s King George V Memorial. The strength of the student body is steadily increasing as ours is a zero rejection centre.
In the last 5 years, 35 children have received a cochlear implant and have undergone therapy at AURED. Out of these, 24 children have been integrated into regular schools. The number of therapy sessions and maps is phased off over a period of time. Children progress towards independence in course of time, which fulfils our mission to ‘Reduce disability and integrate them into the mainstream’.
Today hundreds of our children are participating and contributing members of society.
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Activities Conducted
| No | Activity / Item / Beneficiaries | Quantity / Number, if applicable |
| 1 |
Therapy for underprivileged hearing impaired children |
12 children |
| 2 |
Mapping ( Audiological Management or Programming of a Cochlear Implant) for underprivileged hearing impaired children. |
7 children |
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