Aims and objectives

The Department of Prevention of Communication Disorders (POCD) is an out-reach department launched in the year 2008 at the premises of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore with a main motto to reach people directly and facilitate prevention of various communication disorders. The department majorly focuses on creating awareness about communication disorders, prevention, early identification and management of individuals with communication disorders.

Objectives of the department

• Primary Prevention – Educating the public through sensitization/orientation programs/webinars thereby creating awareness on communication disorders among different sections of society.
• Secondary Prevention – Early identification and assessment of communication disorders through various screening and diagnostic procedures
• Tertiary Prevention – Early rehabilitation and management of communication disorders
• Human Resource Development - Out-reach clinical training for UG and PG students to provide primary, secondary and tertiary prevention services  for early identification and rehabilitation of communication disorders.
• Epidemological research

Faculty Members / Staff

Photo	Name
	Dr. M. Sandeep Head of Department of Prevention of communication Disorders Ph Off : +91-0821-2502-777/775 Email: msandeepa@aiishmysore.in
	Dr. Saransh Jain Assistant Professor of Audiology Ph Off : 91-0821-2502-776 Email: saranshjain@aiishmysore.in
	Ms. Indira C P Assistant Professor of Audiology Ph Off : +91-0821-2502-788 Email: indira@aiishmysore.in
	Dr. Arunraj K Audiologist/Speech-Language Pathologist - Grade I Ph Off : +91-0821-2502-789 Email: nahularun@aiishmysore.in
	Ms. Vanamala Multitasking Staff Ph Off : -------------
	Ms. Megha. K Data entry operator Ph Off : +91-0821-2502-775
	Ms. Deepa Kabbur Data entry operator Ph Off : Ph: 91-0821-2502-703// 9141036292
	Mrs. Sheela Data entry operator Ph Off : +91-0821-2502-703// 9141036292

Activities

The activities are majorly concentrated in and around AIISH as well as in extension centers (across states & rural areas) to meet the major objectives of prevention, early identification and rehabilitation of communication disorders.

 1.    Public Education

One of the major activities of the department is to facilitate and educate the general public at large regarding the communication disorders including  hearing, speech and language disorders. The thrust is to create awareness among the public, community health workers, parents, teachers and others on the early signs and symptoms of various communication disorders, develop skills in them to facilitate their early identification. All these activities are geared towards preventing the occurrence of the disorders and control its impact or prevent its progression to further stages.

 2. Clinical Services

a. Screening Services for Communication disorders

• New-born screening for communication disorders: It is the first step towards ensuring every new born child's ability to learning to speak. Normal hearing ability is the key stone for the development of normal communication skills. Hence all the new-born/infants must undergo hearing screening and screening for any developmental disorders within 1 month of birth ideally. This will facilitate early identification and early rehabilitation of at risk babies. At present Newborn/infant screening is carried out at 14 hospitals in and around Mysuru, 3 immunization centres, 7 newborn screening centres across the country, 23 Out-reach Service Centres at Primary Health Centre/Community Health Centre/Taluk Hospitals and 14 New Born Screening Centres at various Hospitals across the country. During the last annual report (April 2020 to December 2021), 30333 newborn babies were screened, out of which 9% of newborns were found to be at risk for communication disorders.

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• Screening of Pre-school/School Children for communication disorders: Apart from newborns, the department also focuses on screening of school children at various levels such as preschool, primary, secondary and higher secondary levels in order to Create awareness, early identification and rehabilitation of communication disorders. School children are screened for any congenital or acquired hearing impairment and speech and language disorders, reading and writing disorders (learning disability) during the developmental period. As per the annual report(2021), 1616 children from schools in and around different districts of Karnataka were screened for communication disorders. Among the total children screened, 269 (16.6%) were found to be at-risk for communication disorders.    

• Hearing screening for Industrial Workers: Exposure to noise is a serious health hazard. Industrial workers are vulnerable to hearing loss. Programs in this direction focuses on screening the hearing of employees for the presence of noise induced hearing loss. It also involves educating the employers and employees about the ill-effects of noise on hearing through orientation and sensitization programs, suggesting ways for conservation of hearing and protection of the ears through the use of a variety of ear protective devices. Follow-up diagnostic evaluation of every employee at risk or for hearing loss developed due to exposure to noise is carried out at the institute or at on-site whenever required. During the last annual year (2020-2021), 978 industrial workers were screened. Out of the total, 331 workers were identified with hearing loss (34%) and were referred for detailed audiological evaluation.

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• Screening of Elderly Citizens for communication disordrs: The elderly individuals may show a gradual decline in their hearing, cognition, speech and language abilities due to aging or any other conditions such as stroke (CVA), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc. This program is initiated to help elderly individuals to hear and communicate better. Various old-age homes, societies, clubs etc., are identified and the clinical services such as identification of communication disorders, rehabilitation through speech and language therapy, guidance and distribution of free hearing aids are the services provided. As per the elderly screening report (2013-2019), 678 participants were screened for communication disorders. Among the total participants, 458 individuals were identified with hearing-related and communication disorders, reflecting the vulnerability of elderly population to these disorders. During the last annual year (2020-2021), this activity was suspended due to the ongoing pandemic COVID-19.

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• Camp for identification of communication disorders: Camps are conducted at various places within Karnataka and other states of the country to cater to the needs of persons with communication disorders. Camp site is based on the requisition from any organization, sponsored by NGOs and state and/or district government agencies

• Bedside screening for cognitive, communicative and swallowing disorders: The Department of Prevention of Communication Disorders (POCD) has initiated a new program which allows for bedside assessment and intervention in adults undergoing acute care for any neurological or head and neck surgery conditions which leads to speech, language, cognitive and swallowing impairments. Such screening will facilitate identifying these problems using standardized protocols. Those at requirement of services will be counselled and referred for detailed assessment to AIISH.

b. Diagnostic services for communication disorders

• Tele new born screening services: Amidst the pandemic scenario, Department of POCD carries out tele-screening of new born babies as onsite visits are suspended. Parents are counseled to observe the developmental milestones of speech and hearing and to consult professionals as early as possible if risk is identified. And also the newborns who are identified at risk for communication disorders are regularly followed up through phone call until 1 year of age in order to facilitate early identification and early rehabilitation.

• Outreach Service Centers (OSC): The clinical activities are not only restricted to in and around Mysore, but also extended to rural areas where facilities for clinical services for persons with communication disorders may not be available. Thirty one OSCs have been initiated to meet the objective of extending services of the institute to rural areas. The OSCs are functioning as a well-equipped unit in taluk level/PHCs/CHCs/District hospitals for screening, diagnostics and therapeutic services for persons with communication disorders. The services include all the screening programs of the department along with Speech and Language evaluation, Audiological evaluation, ENT evaluation, Speech-Language therapy, Issue of hearing aids and ear molds.

c. Rehabilitative services for communication disorders 

Tertiary prevention activities involve improving the quality of life of persons with various communication disorders by evaluating and diagnosing the disorders, providing rehabilitation to prevent its adverse effect on individual's quality of life.  The following rehabilitation services are provided at the outreach service centers for both children and adults.

3. Human Resource Development

Students pursuing their graduate and post graduate programs in the field of speech & hearing are trained to screen, evaluate and rehabilitate persons with communication disorders across different age groups in hospitals, schools, industries and old age homes. The internship students from other institutes are also trained on these extension activities.

4. Research

The department has a specialized Epidemiology Unit. This unit has been launched in order to stimulate research in the area of communication disorders and establish a centralized data bank on various communication disorders. Several publications have been made using the data collected from the programs carried out by the department.

Click here to read more

• Screening of Elderly Citizens for communication disordrs: The elderly individuals may show a gradual decline in their hearing, cognition, speech and language abilities due to aging or any other conditions such as stroke (CVA), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc. This program is initiated to help elderly individuals to hear and communicate better. Various old-age homes, societies, clubs etc., are identified and the clinical services such as identification of communication disorders, rehabilitation through speech and language therapy, guidance and distribution of free hearing aids are the services provided. As per the elderly screening report (2013-2019), 678 participants were screened for communication disorders. Among the total participants, 458 individuals were identified with hearing-related and communication disorders, reflecting the vulnerability of elderly population to these disorders. During the last annual year (2020-2021), this activity was suspended due to the ongoing pandemic COVID-19.
  • Camp for identification of communication disorders: Camps are conducted at various places within Karnataka and other states of the country to cater to the needs of persons with communication disorders. Camp site is based on the requisition from any organization, sponsored by NGOs and state and/or district government agencies.   
  • Bedside screening for cognitive, communicative and swallowing disorders: The Department of Prevention of Communication Disorders (POCD) has initiated a new program which allows for bedside assessment and intervention in adults undergoing acute care for any neurological or head and neck surgery conditions which leads to speech, language, cognitive and swallowing impairments. Such screening will facilitate identifying these problems using standardized protocols. Those at requirement of services will be counselled and referred for detailed assessment to AIISH.  
  • Tele new born screening services:  Amidst the pandemic scenario, Department of POCD carries out tele-screening of new born babies as onsite visits are suspended. Parents are counseled to observe the developmental milestones of speech and hearing and to consult professionals as early as possible if risk is identified. And also the newborns who are identified at risk for communication disorders are regularly followed up through phone call until 1 year of age in order to facilitate early identification and early rehabilitation.
     
  • Outreach Service Centers (OSC): The clinical activities are not only restricted to in and around Mysore, but also extended to rural areas where facilities for clinical services for persons with communication disorders may not be available. Thirty one OSCs have been initiated to meet the objective of extending services of the institute to rural areas. The OSCs are functioning as a well-equipped unit in taluk level/PHCs/CHCs/District hospitals for screening, diagnostics and therapeutic services for persons with communication disorders. The services include all the screening programs of the department along with Speech and Language evaluation, Audiological evaluation, ENT evaluation, Speech-Language therapy, Issue of  hearing aids and ear molds.
  • Issue of free digital hearing aids for BPL card holders
  • Medical treatment for ENT related disorders
  • Speech and Language therapy

Epidemiological Research Reports

Elderly Screening: Distribution of Communication Disorders in Older and Elderly Adults

Editor: Prof. M. Pushpavathi

Year of release: 2022

Authors: Dr.Swapna N, Dr.Arunraj K, Dr.Vasantha Lakshmi M S, Dr.Prawin Kumar, Dr.N Sreedevi, Ms.Thasni Jahan, Ms.Aparna U, Ms.Reshma O

Elderly Screening: Distribution of Communication Disorders in Older and Elderly Adults

School Screening report on Communication Disorders: At-risk prevalence rate of Hearing and Speech-Language disorders in school children report 2008-2020

Editor: Prof. M. Pushpavathi

Year of release: 2022

Authors: Dr.N Sreedevi, Dr.Arunraj K, Dr.Vasantha Lakshmi M S, Dr.Sandeep Maruthy, Ms.Spoorthi T, Ms.Srividya S, Ms.Ankitha S

School Screening report on Communication Disorders: At-risk prevalence rate of Hearing and Speech-Language disorders in school children report 2008-2020

Newborn Hearing Screening Program of AIISH: A Report
 Editors: Dr. M Pushpavathi, Dr. N Sreedevi
Year of release: 2022
Prepared by: Dr. Sandeep M, Mr. Srinivasa R, Dr. Arunraj K
Contributors: Ms.Saranya M, Ms. Thirumanjari, Ms. Apoorva Prathibha

Newborn Hearing screening program of AIISH

School screening report on Communication disorders: At risk prevalence rate of hearing and speech- language disorders in school children
Editors: Prof. M Pushpavathi
Year of release: 2022
Authors: Dr N Sreedevi, Dr. Arunraj K, Dr. Sandeep M, Dr. Vasanthalakshmi M.S, Ms. Spoorthi T, Ms. Srividya S, Ms. Ankitha S.

    School Screening report   

Elderly screening: Distribution of Communication Disorders in Older and Elderly Adults
Editors: Prof. M Pushpavathi
Year of release: 2022
Authors: Dr. Swapna N, Dr. Arunraj K, Dr. Vasanthalakshmi M.S, Dr Prawin Kumar, Dr. N Sreedevi, Ms. Thasni Jahan K, Ms. Aparna U, Ms. Reshma O.

Elderly Screening

Outreach Services

Outreach Service Centres

Recent Events

Upcoming events

A school screening camp is scheduled for 12.08.2022 at Wings Montessori school, J.P Nagar, Mysore for preschool children. The number expected to be screened is 70.

An Industrial screening camp is scheduled for 10^th-11^th August at Trinton Valves, Belavadi, Mysore. The number of employees of Trinton Valves expected to be screened is 400.

A school screening camp is scheduled for 25.08.2022 at Mount Litera Zee School, Mysore for school children.  The number expected to be screened is 100.