Development of rehabilitation services for hearing impaired people in India

Abstract EN

In the twentieth century, rehabilitation efforts for hearing impaired persons have progressed from exclusion to inclusion.

The present day rehabilitative strategy is to focus on their abilities and the challenges they face, rather than on their disability and handicap.

This philosophy has emerged due to the growing acceptance of hearing impaired persons as being on par with their normal hearing peers.

In the past, rehabilitation of hearing impaired persons mainly concerned their education.

Today, rehabilitative services include programmes for individuals of all ages, with different types and degrees of hearing losses including those who may have acquired hearing loss.

The growth and development of services for hearing impaired persons have been influenced by several factors.

This paper reviews these factors and their impact, on the development of rehabilitation services for hearing-impaired persons in India.