Kolkata, September 18, 2026: Hearing is central to communication. Babies learn language by imitating sounds they hear. A newborn’s ability to hear normally not only determines her or his ability to learn language and communication skills but is also fundamental in the overall development of the child’s brain including personality, problem solving skills, cognitive abilities, interpersonal skills and even compassion and self-esteem. Yet, hearing impairment and the resultant delay in global developmental milestones in small children often goes unnoticed or even neglected especially since newborns take about a year to start speaking. Treated in time, these children however have the chance to develop equally as their normal hearing peers and reach their full potential to contribute meaningfully to society.
Team ENT at C K Birla Hospitals – CMRI have been at the forefront of providing treatment for deafness especially in children. However, the greatest impediment to proper development of these unfortunate children remains the lack of awareness about the problem, its causes and consequences leading not only to delayed diagnosis and treatment but also lost chances.
Recognizing the need for spreading awareness and the importance of early identification and treatment of hearing loss, CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI, Kolkata, is launching ‘UJJWOL SHOISHOB’, an initiative dedicated to Paediatric hearing screening and health especially the age group between 0 and 18 years of age. While the programme will initially focus on hearing health and creating greater awareness around deafness and delayed speech in children, we hope to bring more issues regarding paediatric health and growth under the umbrella of “UJJWOL SHOISHOB” in the future.
As part of the initiative, CMRI in association with its partner NGOs, plans to adopt a district for the programme and take screening and awareness beyond the hospital setting. The initiative aims to reach 5,000 children by 2027, with the objective of raising awareness among families and communities to achieve early identification and treatment of paediatric deafness.
The initiative will be undertaken in association with organisations like Mahavir Seva Sadan (MSS), Charm ENT Foundation, SOMID (Society for the Mainstream Integration of the Deaf) and Anwesha (an organisation of parents of deaf children).
Dr. N.V.K. Mohan, Consultant – Otologist, ENT and Cochlear Implant Surgeon, said, “Hearing impairment in newborns often goes unrecognized. Sometimes, the first sign parents notice is that the child is not speaking at the expected age or is finding it difficult to communicate which is already late. Societal bias and superstition also add to delayed treatment which put the child at greater disadvantage. This is why awareness and early screening are so important. The earlier a hearing concern is identified, the sooner the child can be evaluated and the family can understand the appropriate way forward. Through UJJWOL SOISHOB, we hope to encourage families to recognize these signs and seek help without delay.”
Dr. Sombrata Roy, Zonal Head, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI, Kolkata, said, “With UJJWOL SOISHOB, our aim is to take the conversation around child health beyond the hospital. We want to encourage families to look at a child’s development as a whole and understand that concerns identified early deserve attention. Starting with hearing impairment, the programme will create a platform for screening as well as awareness, while our target of reaching 5,000 children by 2027 gives us a clear direction for the programme. We are also working with organisations that have been closely involved with children and families affected by hearing impairment, which will be important in taking this initiative forward.”
The launch of UJJWOL SOISHOB will be held on September 18, 2026, at 3 PM at the CMRI auditorium. The launch will be attended by Dr. Indranil Khan, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Youth Services and Sports, and Prof. Dr. Arun Singh, Prof. of Neonatology, Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, who established the first Department of Neonatology in the country at IPGMER and SSKM Hospital
