On the occasion of World Hearing Day (March 3, 2026), Dr. T. Sai Balarama Krishna Senior ENT Surgeon and HOD of Otorhinolaryngology, emphasized the urgent need for strengthening ear and hearing care services for children, in keeping with this year’s theme, “From Communities to Classrooms – Hearing Care for All Children.”
Dr. Sai Balarama Krishna stated that hearing is fundamental to speech development, education, and social integration, and that unrecognized hearing impairment remains a significant but preventable cause of delayed learning among children. Early identification and timely intervention can prevent permanent disability and ensure normal language development and academic progress.
He noted that many common causes of hearing loss in children — including ear infections, impacted wax, chronic middle ear disease, congenital hearing loss, and neonatal risk factors — can be effectively managed if detected early. Regular ear examination and hearing screening at the community and school levels are essential for early diagnosis, particularly in developing countries where many children remain undiagnosed.
Dr. Sai Balarama Krishna stressed that parents and teachers should be vigilant for early warning signs such as delayed speech, inattentiveness in class, poor scholastic performance, and frequent requests for repetition. Unsafe practices such as self-medication and unscientific ear cleaning should be strictly avoided.
“Early detection and timely treatment of hearing loss can transform a child’s future. No child should be deprived of education because of a preventable hearing problem,” Dr. Sai Balarama Krishna observed.
Modern advances such as microscopic ear surgery, digital hearing aids, and cochlear implantation have made effective hearing rehabilitation possible. Public awareness and periodic hearing check-ups remain the cornerstone of prevention.