Details.... - Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing ...

A YJNIHHResearch ProjectsResearch projects have been designed to increase and improve rehabilitation services. Moduleshave been developed to serve the persons with hearing handicap, who are living in semi-urbanand rural areas.Some of these projects are aimed at evolving modules and diagnostic tests that can be usedor replicated by other organisations. Modules for early identification and intervention of childrenwith hearing impairment have been prepared and are on field trial. Work is under progress onthe following projects at AYJNIHH Headquarter, Mumbai and its Regional Centres –i) Deafness in India : A Network Mission Towards Understanding the Genes &Mutations and their Clinical Outcomes. The Project is funded by Dept. of Bio-Technology,Govt. of India (Multicentric study being done in collaboration with JNCASR, Bangalore, MAMC, NewDelhi and PGIBMS, Chennai)Principal Investigators : Mr.R.Rangasayee: Dr.Anuranjan AnandCo-Investigator : Dr. Kamal ParasramIt is a service based project to initiate genetic screening programme in the country to bridge thegap between deafness gene discoveries and application of genetic information to improve diagnosis,rehabilitation, management and prevention of hearing impairment. This project is taken upwith the following objectives -• To create detailed data base of the deafness gene mutations by using modern technology;• To develop cost-effective,sensitive and non invasive technologies for such diagnosis;• To study the nature of Cx 26 & TMC1 mutations in India including their prevalence, audiologicalconsequences & differential clinical correlates;• To build up an easily accessible data base that will be useful for the purpose of accurate and highquality genetic counselling services and training of professionals in this area.Progress made during the reporting year is given below -1. No. of families covered : 502. The sample includes :a. Families from Dr. Kusumtai Naravane School for the hearing impaired, Kandivli, Mumbai –total 14 families (48 samples)b. Families visited AYJNIHH – 36 families (74 samples)1ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008

A YJNIHH3. Genetic Counseling session cum orientation programme for the families with Dr. Anuranjan Anand,Principal Investigator addressed and counseled these families. The report for confirmed connexin 26mutations was received for total 24 families whose blood samples and audiological data were collected.Out of these twenty four families, three were from Pune, three were from Indore, four were fromGujarat and rests were from Mumbai. Total 12 families reported for the counseling, eight on 24 thApril, 2007. Two families from Pune and one family from Bhavnagar attended this counseling session.Group counseling as well as individualized counseling service was offered to each of the families. Dr.Anuranjan Anand answered all possible queries asked by each of the families.4. A scientific paper titled “Implication in disclosing genetic mutations to a family – a case study”based on findings of the project was published in the International Journal of Audiology in the 46 thissue in July 2007. Computerization of the entire data till date has been completed.ii) Early Identification and Intervention towards Inclusive Education ofChildren with Hearing Impairment (0-5 years).Investigators : Mr. R.RangasayeeMrs. Saraswathi NarayanaswamyMrs. V. GathooAYJNIHH in collaboration with Balavidyalaya Institute for Teachers Training, Chennai has undertakena project titled “Early Identification and Intervention towards Inclusive Education of Children withHearing Impairment” (0-5 years).Besides NIHH and its four regional centers, early intervention centers under the project are ongoingat National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Trivandrum; Balavidyalaya at Pondicherry, Villivakkamand Kottayam; K.L.Institute for the Deaf, Bhavnagar; Bholenath Rural Craft Development Society,Kuhibahal, Dist. Sonepur and Mai Lele Shravan Vikas Vidyalaya, Nashik. These centers all haveteachers trained under the one month orientation programme to equip rehabilitation professionals tohandle very young children with hearing impairment. A total of approximately 200 children withhearing impairment under the age of five years have received intervention services at these centersunder the project during the reporting year, of these 57% were in the age group of 0-3 years.iii)Development of Kit for Auditory Training for Speech titled “ Home AuditoryTraining Programme( HAP)”. The project is funded by Science & Technology Mission Mode,Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India.Principal Investigator :Mrs. Anjali KantCo-Investigator : Dr. Medha Adhyaru2ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008

A YJNIHHThe project is taken up with the following objectives -i) To develop a kit for enabling parents and teachers to improve the auditory skills ofchildren with hearing impairment.ii) To design a kit in such a manner so as to provide easily available simple material inHindi and MarathiProgress made during the reporting year is given below -Fifteen pictures required for level three of auditory training viz. identification andsuprasegmental perception were designed. The design for the cover for the video CD inHindi for level 1, i.e. auditory awareness was finalised. The CD-ROMs for the level 1(both in Hindi & Marathi) are ready and have been field tested.iv) Development of Study Materials for B.Ed.(H.I.) Trainee TeachersPrincipal Investigator : Dr.Arun BanikCo-Investigator : Mrs.Balaka MitraConsidering the needs of the teacher of the hearing impaired, a project on ‘Development of studymaterial for B.Ed(H.I) trainees has been under taken by the Material Development Department ofAYJNIHH. To develop effective study material for theory courses they are to be adequately supplementedby practical experiences.To fulfil such objectives, the study materials focuses on developing information and strengtheningknowledge, self-study skills and management skills in students. Under this project the departmenthas developed material in English only on four subjects during 2005-07. This four test booksdeveloped already is likely to be printed soon subject to availability of printing funds.Considering the need of such material in regional languages; it is proposed to extent the project fora period of three years with appointing of two staff on contract basis such as I) Research Assistant(M.Ed) and one DTP Operator. Initially it will be in Hindi and Marathi and later on it will extentfurther for some other languages. The budget and salary of the project for three years will bebased institute project rule as adopted by the Institute. However, test books materials in English forfour subjects are ready for use.3ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008

A YJNIHHv) Screening of Hearing in Infants - A Pilot Project (SHIP)Principal Investigator : Dr. Vijayalakshmi BasavarajCo-Investigator : Ms. Aparna NandurkarDr. Ruchi NanavatiThe objective of the project is to develop and evaluate an infant hearing screening module to identifybabies with severe to profound hearing loss. And to estimate the cost and applicability of the developedmodule for India and other developing countries.The project is underway in collaboration with Dept. of Neonatology, K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai. Acombination Behavioural, OAE & ABR screening techniques is being evaluated for universal hearingscreening in a Govt. Hospital set-up. Caregiver, nurse and audiologist are involved in the screening.During the reporting year 251 high-risk infants and 57 non-risk newborns were screened.vi)Developing and Standardizing a Test of School Readiness (TSR) for Childrenwith Hearing ImpairmentThe objective of the project is to develop a Test of School Readiness (TSR) to assess the readinessskills of children with hearing impairment, which are essential for formal primary school in differentsetups. Progress made during the reporting year is given below -1. The validation of the drafted sub-tests of TSR (language, Maths, Writing, Reading) was completed.2. The Record Sheet for these sub-tests were developed.3. All the four sub-tests of TSR were administered on children with and without hearing impairment inthe age group of 5 to 7 years as a part of pilot study.4. Data collected were statistically analyzed for selecting item in the final sub-tests of TSR.5. The test-plates of all the sub-tests were sketched by the artist and the digital photographs of thesetest plates were taken.6. Rating scales for accessing the Socio-Emotional Maturity and Communication Skill of Children withHearing Impairment were developed and validated as a part of TSR.7. The finalized Test of School Readiness will be administered on Children with Hearing Impairment inthe month of June as a part of standardization.4ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008