Culture & Education | Sunday 22 April, 2018 11:11 am |

Zayed University’s Student Accessibility Department (SAS), in association with Medeor 24x7 Hospital, the multi-specialty family hospital in Dubai, and a unit of VPS healthcare, organised the first ‘Ear Care Awareness Campaign’ for students at both Abu Dhabi and Dubai university campuses, recently. 

 

The Campaign, while celebrating the Arab Deaf Awareness Week in April, aimed to create awareness among Zayed University community on the challenges we place on our auditory senses through the various levels of decibels in the day-to-day activities. 

 

The event helped students understand the ‘realities of living without hearing’ through an informative ‘Anatomy of the Ear’ Workshop that also explained the different types of auditory disabilities, causes, precautions and treatment, along with a Hearing Impaired Simulator Game, Sign Language for the Deaf Workshop and an Assistive Technology Workshop. 

 

The Campaign also included an inspirational presentation by an aurally-challenged student on her challenges and the motivation in turning them into opportunities. Awareness lectures were attended by more than 130 students and over 50 students benefited from free audiology tests performed by Medeor 24x7 Hospital’s mobile screening clinic.

 

The Campaign was attended by His Excellency Prof. Reyadh Al Mehaideb, Vice President, Zayed University, Ms. Fatma AlQassimi, Director, Student Accessibility Services Department, Zayed University and other senior members.

 

Al Mehaideb expressed gratitude to the accountable parties for initiating a successful event, which in turn noted a remarkable student interaction. "Following clear directives of H.E Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, President of Zayed University, we are mandated to provide students with disabilities all necessary tools and needs to complete their studies and present a meaningful contribution to their local community and to the UAE society." He further added that "The university adapts modern technologies and mobile applications to communicate with the Students of Determination.”

For her part, Ms. Al Qassimi, said, “Zayed University hosts 12 Hearing Impaired students, six located at the Abu Dhabi Campus, and six in Dubai. 11 of which are hearing impaired and one profoundly deaf.” 

She mentioned that the best way to educate students on ear care was to conduct such a campaign, “We created a brilliant learning atmosphere and managed to entice a number of students, who networked with ear care experts and acknowledged the importance of avoiding certain behaviours which might lead to future hearing difficulties,” she said. “We often come across young people taking their hearing capabilities for granted.” 

 

Dr. Nitesh Kumar, Director Operations, Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai, said, “At Medeor Hospital, we receive a steady flow of patients who have experienced loss of hearing due external factors such as industrial noise, youngsters listening to music at high volumes and people of all ages damaging their ears by poking sharp objects, earbuds, etc. into the ears. The campaign at Zayed University highlighted these hazards that are mostly ignored.”

 

According to World Health Organisation, over 5% of the world’s population or 466 million people, that includes 432 million adults and 34 million children, have disabling hearing loss. It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people i.e. one in every 10 people, will have a disabling hearing loss.