Double Helical sponsors a Symposium on Hearing Loss at MAMC

National health magazine Double Helical recently organised a symposium at Maulana Azad Medical College on Causes of Avoidable Hearing Loss in collaboration with Sound Hearing 2030 under the aegis of Society for Sound Hearing National Programme for Prevention & Control of Deafness, Department of Community Medicine and Department of ENT, Maulana Azad Medical College.
The symposium was attended by over 100 participants comprising WHO experts, ENT specialists, audiologists, public health experts, speech therapists and special educators.
On this occasion, Dr Arun Agarwal, Ex-Dean, Maulana Azad Medical College and President, Sound Hearing 2030 extended a warm welcome to the audience. Next Dr MM Singh, Director Professor, Community Medicine, MAMC explained the objectives of the symposium to all the delegates.
The first presentation was delivered by Dr Suneela Garg, Director Prof & Head, Community Medicine, MAMC on “Epidemiology & risk factors of Otitis Media in global, regional and Indian context.” She mentioned that about 330 million persons globally are affected by Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) and it accounts for 5 million disability adjusted life years.
She stated that multiple studies have shown high prevalence of otitis media in India with more than 6% experiencing the disorder. She also elaborated on the risk factors associate with it. She concluded by saying that a collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Health, international agencies, public health experts, ENT surgeons, audiologists, special educators and grassroots workers is required to combat this disease.
The second presentation was by Dr Shelly Chadha, Technical Officer, WHO, Geneva on “Addressing Otitis Media: a global perspective”. She highlighted the high burden of CSOM in low & middle income countries which is primarily attributed to poor awareness regarding ear & hearing problems in the community. In order to address otitis media, she stressed on the need to understand the prevalence and profile of ear diseases in the community, engage with health care providers and community to raise awareness. This should be followed by establishing linkages/strengthen infrastructure for treatment of CSOM and launching community based screening and intervention programmes.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr D.K. Tempe, Dean, Maulana Azad Medical College as the Chief Guest. The ceremony began with lighting of the lamp by all the dignitaries followed by Saraswati Vandana by the young and budding medical students of the college. Words of wisdom were given by the dignitaries such as Dr Arun Agarwal, Dr JC Passey, Dr Suneela Garg and Dr Tempe.
The next presentation was by Dr GS Meena, Director Professor, Community Medicine, MAMC on “Barriers to Otitis Media care”. He emphasised that barriers to Otitis Media care exist at individual, family and community level. He mentioned that the major barriers are lack of motivation for treatment, access of healthcare facility, inadequate screening and preventive care, late presentation to health care facility and no or incomplete treatment.

The post-tea session began with a panel discussion on “Diagnostic aspects of Otitis Media – Audiology, Imaging & Microbiology” which was moderated by Dr Arun Agarwal. The esteemed panelists for the session were VP Saha, Assistant Director, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Dr Anjali Prakash, HOD, Department of Radio diagnosis, MAMC, Dr Ravinder Kaur, HOD, Microbiology at Lady Hardinge Medical College Dr Beena Uppal, Ex-HOD, Department of Microbiology, MAMC and Dr Neelima Gupta, Professor, ENT, UCMS.

Next Dr Saurabh Varshney, HOD ENT, AIIMS Rishikesh delivered a presentation on “Public Health Strategies for Management of Otitis Media.” Dr Nishi Gupta HoD, ENT, Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital presented a talk on screening protocol for otits media.

Dr Rohit Mehrotra, Head, Mehrotra ENT Hospital, Kanpur delivered a talk on “Role of surgical interventions in Otitis Media in community.” During his talk, he presented details of surgical interventions viz. adenoidectomy, myringotomy and grommet insertion, mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty and labyrinthectomy. Dr Rohit Mehrotra was also acknowledged for being the first support of Society for Sound Hearing International.
The first talk post-lunch was on “Role of IEC in prevention of Otitis Media” which was presented by Dr Nandini Sharma (Director Professor, Community Medicine, MAMC) and Dr Neelima Gupta (Professor, ENT, UCMS). Dr Nandini Sharma emphasized the IEC is the cornerstone of any public health initiative. She explained the key principles to designing IEC and different forms of communication viz. mass media and interpersonal communication. Dr Neelima Gupta spoke about the important messages regarding otitis media which should be communicated. She also mentioned that posters, short films, social media, awareness drives in the community and health talks would serve as effective means of IEC in relation to otitis media.
Dr J.C Passey, Director Professor & Head, ENT, MAMC presented the talk on “Role of Cochlear Implant in Otitis Media”. He elaborated that in certain cases profound hearing loss can occur as a result of chronic otitis media, thereby requiring cochlear implantation. He also explained the guidelines to implant and surgical challenges of implanting a patient with otitis media.
The last presentation was by Dr Sunil Dhanda who delivered a talk on “Life threatening conditions in Otitis Media”. He mentioned that although the complications have reduced over the years due to availability of antimicrobials, wide spread use antibiotics, increased awareness of disease and increased numbers of ENT surgeons, some life threatening conditions still remain. He elaborated on Intratemporal (Mastoiditis, Petrositis, Labyrinthitis and Facial paralysis), Intracranial (Extradural abscess, subdural abscess, Brain abscess, Meninigitis, Lateral Sinus thrombosis) and Extracranial (Sub periosteal, Bezold , Luc and Cittelli) conditions.
The symposium ended with felicitation of all the esteemed faculty members and vote of thanks to all those who had contributed to making the event a success.