Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia organizes Public Seminar for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing “A Sound Future: Learning to Listen”
Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) Cochlear Implant Program will hold a public seminar on “A Sound Future: Learning to Listen” to introduce parents, teachers, caregivers, therapists and those in related fields to new developments in helping the deaf and hard of hearing to hear better.
Kuala Lumpur, (PRWEB) February 5, 2004
In the past children who are deaf or hard of hearing have been faced with a life of silence, isolation and exclusion from many everyday activities because they could not communicate in a hearing world.
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Health reveal that an estimated 440,000 or 2% of the 22 million Malaysian face hearing problems including deafness. Given this high figure, the specific needs of this group need to be addressed.
Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) Cochlear Implant Program will hold a public seminar on “A Sound Future: Learning to Listen” to introduce parents, teachers, caregivers, therapists and those in related fields to new developments in helping the deaf and hard of hearing to hear better.
The hospitalÂ’s Cochlear Implant Program is among the pioneers in this field in Malaysia.
According to Prof. Dr Lokman Saim, Head of the HUKM Cochlear Implant Program Recent scientific advances in amplification and cochlear implant technology have provided great potential listening opportunities. The deaf and hard of hearing in Malaysia, especially children can benefit from these advances.
“The caregivers of hearing impaired children need to realize that after a cochlear implant or with the use of powerful hearing aids, hearing impaired children still need to learn to listen,” explained Prof. Dr. Lokman, who is a speaker at the seminar.
The seminar will introduce the Auditory-Verbal Approach a highly regarded method of developing speech and language in hearing-impaired children, who have received cochlear implants or hearing aids.
Auditory Verbal Therapy operates on the principle that residual hearing is common to 95% of all hearing-impaired children. By stimulating this hearing, children can develop spontaneous oral speech and language.
The seminar will also feature Mr. Warren Estabrooks, Director of the Auditory-Verbal Centre, Learning to Listen Foundation, Canada, an international consultant who lectures and teaches worldwide about auditory-verbal therapy, education and practice, childhood hearing impairment and cochlear implant habilitation.
“The goal of the auditory-verbal approach is for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to grow up in typical learning and living environments and to become independent, participating citizens in mainstream society by providing tools to develop speech and auditory skills,” Mr. Estabrooks said.
The seminar will provide a comprehensive understanding of Auditory-Verbal Therapy and how to effectively implement the auditory-verbal approach. It will be held at the Hospital UKM Auditorium in Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur on February 7, from 8.30am to 2.00pm. Admission is free. To register call Pn. Sima 91702415 or email: ukmcochlearimplant@hotmail. com.
###
