The statistics are staggering! There are over 300,000 deaf children in India; the southern state of Tamil Nadu alone accounts for about 70,000. Whatever the accuracy of the figures, there is no denying the fact that India has one of the largest deaf populations in the world. There are only 47 deaf schools in the state which means that that the majority of speech and hearing impaired children get little or no formal education and are doomed to a dark future.
[Vela special School for the deaf] In the school for hearing impaired children each child is subjected to audiogram to assess the level of hearing loss. Children below 5 years of age are taken to the Jipmer Institute, Pondicherry for BERA tests. Then they are given world class hearing aids (SIEMENS) free of cost, depending on the degree of hearing loss. Every child receives speech training and basic education with the aid of computers. Besides, theses children are trained in tailoring, computer usage, painting, games and yoga. Besides education, the children are given shelter, food, books and all other learning aids.In the school for hearing impaired children each child is subjected to audiogram to assess the level of hearing loss. Children below 5 years of age are taken to the Jipmer Institute, Pondicherry for BERA tests. Then they are given world class hearing aids (SIEMENS) free of cost, depending on the degree of hearing loss. Every child receives speech training and basic education with the aid of computers. Besides, theses children are trained in tailoring, computer usage, painting, games and yoga. Besides education, the children are given shelter, food, books and all other learning aids.
Arivalayam – is a school with a difference. It all began when the plight of a three year old child in a pre-primary school in BHEL Township came to the notice of the Management of the giant Public Sector Organisation Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The child was always seen isolated from the group and made no attempt to join in the fun and frolic of the other children. On further probing it was found that there were a number of such children in and around Township who required special education. The result was the establishment of Arivalayam in 1977 – A School for the Mentally Challenged children by the management of BHEL with technical support from CBM – Christophel Blinden Mission of Germany.
Priyaa Speech and Hearing Centre (PSHC) has been established with a primary goal of addressing the developmental and clinical needs of children with speech and hearing disorders, since 2002. We treat problems in the areas of articulation, stuttering, oral-motor, speech & voice disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders.