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Hearing Foundation of India
Hearing Foundation of India
An Initiative of Bharat Educational and Social Charitable Trust, Puducherry, India
Hearing loss often goes unnoticed and untreated, affecting communication, education, and overall quality of life—especially among children and the elderly. Through its Hearing Foundation of India initiative, Bharat Educational and Social Charitable Trust works to identify, support, and rehabilitate individuals with hearing and speech challenges.
Your donation helps provide free or subsidized hearing screenings, hearing aids, and speech therapy services to those in need. It also supports awareness programs, early detection camps, and rehabilitation efforts that enable individuals to lead independent and confident lives.
By contributing to this cause, you are giving the gift of sound, connection, and dignity—transforming lives and empowering communities.
My Country – My Place – My Pride
A Public Awareness Initiative
Understanding the Types of Hearing Loss
"Hearing connects us with our loved ones, education, work, music, and the sounds of everyday life. Unfortunately, millions of people live with hearing loss without realizing that early diagnosis and timely treatment can significantly improve their quality of life."
The Hearing Foundation of India is committed to creating awareness, promoting early hearing screening, and ensuring that every individual has access to quality hearing healthcare.
How Do We Hear?
The human ear has three main parts:
Outer Ear
Collects sound waves.
Middle Ear
Amplifies sound through three tiny bones.
Inner Ear
Converts sound into electrical signals to the brain.
1. Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear.
Common Causes
- Ear wax blockage
- Ear infections
- Fluid in the middle ear
- Hole in the eardrum
- Foreign objects in the ear
- Damage to the tiny ear bones
Symptoms & Treatment
- Symptoms: Sounds seem softer, feeling of blocked ears, better hearing at higher volume, ear pain or discharge (sometimes).
- Treatment: Ear cleaning, medication, minor surgery, or hearing aids when necessary.
Early treatment often restores hearing completely.
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This is the most common type of hearing loss and occurs due to damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or the hearing nerve.
Common Causes
- Age-related hearing loss
- Long-term exposure to loud noise
- Certain medications
- Viral infections
- Head injury
- Genetic conditions
Symptoms & Treatment
- Symptoms: Difficulty understanding speech, people seem to mumble, trouble hearing in noisy places, ringing in ears (tinnitus).
- Management: Usually permanent, but often managed with digital hearing aids, cochlear implants (for selected individuals), hearing rehabilitation, and speech/listening therapy.
Early identification greatly improves communication outcomes.
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. For example, a person may already have age-related hearing loss and later develop an ear infection or earwax blockage.
Treatment
Treatment usually addresses the conductive component first (medicine or surgery), followed by hearing rehabilitation or hearing aids for the sensorineural component.
Warning Signs of Hearing Loss
Consult a hearing specialist if you experience:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Difficulty hearing on the telephone
- Increasing TV or mobile volume
- Trouble following conversations in groups
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Missing doorbells or alarms
Protect Your Hearing
Simple habits can help prevent hearing damage:
- Wear hearing protection in noisy environments.
- Keep headphone volume below 60% of maximum.
- Take listening breaks during prolonged headphone use.
- Treat ear infections promptly.
- Never insert sharp objects or cotton buds deep into the ear canal.
- Have your hearing checked regularly, especially after age 50 or if exposed to loud noise at work.
Our Mission
The Hearing Foundation of India, an initiative of the Bharat Educational and Social Charitable Trust, Puducherry, works towards:
- Community hearing screening programmes
- Hearing health awareness campaigns
- School hearing screening
- Early identification of hearing impairment
- Public education on hearing conservation
- Support and guidance for individuals with hearing loss
Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind because of preventable or untreated hearing loss.
Healthy Hearing. Better Communication. Better Quality of Life.
Hear Early • Hear Better • Live Better
