“Aamal” organization’s vital role in the soon-to-be-launched National Neonatal Hearing Deficiency Detection and Early Intervention Program 

Thanks to its accumulated experience in addressing the problem of hearing deficiency in children over the past 20 years, the Syrian Organization for Persons with Disabilities (AAMAL) constitutes a main pillar of the National Neonatal Hearing Deficiency Detection and Early Intervention Program soon-to- be- launched.

The organization provides detection, diagnosis, and necessary intervention services through hearing aids, doctors, and specialists who carry out the diagnosis process, perform cochlear implants, and then integrate children into society. Many children have been audiologically scanned, and thousands have been rehabilitated and about 400 cochlear implants were rehabilitated, according to the representative of “Aamal” organization in the program Claudia Toma.

In a statement to SANA correspondent, Toma pointed out that the accumulated experience of the organization has made it an active component of the Program’s National Committee in the development of the protocol and geographical spread in the Centers working in early detection, as well as the cadres working on detection, diagnosis and survey.  It also conducts survey campaigns in remote areas to reach the greatest number of children while raising awareness, noting the need for the program as it is a crucial step for children’s health.

Farah Jabri, a specialist in audiology at the organization, drew attention to the role of the organization as a key partner in providing practical experience in the program, in terms of providing training courses in cochlear implants, training cadres working within the program to conduct auditory scanning tests, and training master’s and health sciences students within the Audiology, Speech, and Language Assessment Department, stressing the importance of the program that provides the necessary services to the child in the event of any hearing problem.

Dr. Wafaa Hussein, Director of the Speech and Language Assessment Centre at Aamal, explained the importance of the speech and language assessment phase after hearing recovery so that the child can speak and pronounce, which varies in duration from one child to another, depending on the intervention time. She referred to the child’s great need for support and rehabilitation and to provide him with the skill of auditory discrimination to develop the language and bring him to his peer’s level.

The Syrian Organization for persons with disabilities (Aamal) was established in 2002. It is a non-governmental organization that seeks to provide rehabilitation services and provide an appropriate environment to support people with disabilities, and enable their effective and independent participation in all aspects of life.

The Ministries of Health, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Defense, Interior, the Syrian Organization for Persons with Disabilities (Aamal), and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are implementing the National Program for Detection and Early Intervention of Neonatal Hearing Deficiency.

Amal Farhat