KOZHIKODE: In order to underline early detection of hearing loss, former Australian cricketer Brett Lee will be in Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital on Saturday participating in a discussion on the importance of screening newborns. Kozhikode Government Medical College, which has started cochlear implants a year ago, has so far carried out 180 such surgeries free of cost. “The State has around 1.05 lakh people who suffer from hearing impairment”, said the ENT Head of MCH Dr Muralidharan Namboothiri. We are of the opinion that if we are able to identify the impairment during the first three years, it is very easy to cure, he added.
“Hearing loss is a huge global public health issue. Most people are unaware of the advanced treatment options available; hence our mission is to spread the word about these treatments to the public”, he said. Since 2015, Brett Lee has been appointed as the global brand ambassador of the hearing implant maker Cochlear. Lee’s mission is to spearhead the ‘Sounds of Cricket’ campaign to raise awareness of the significant medical, social and economic impact that hearing loss can have on individuals and their families.
