Looking for Light of Hope – An experience

 

         

         It was 19th April 2023, a day on which a Hearing Screening Camp was organised at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (Deemed University) – Faculty of Disability Management and Special Education (FDMSE) Coimbatore campus. This article narrates my heartfelt memories which are unforgettable.........

          The arrangements were done and we were waiting to start the evaluation process. Soon the children along with parents started coming for the hearing screening evaluation. We all were busy as crowd started increasing. After finishing initial process of registration and case history, one young boy Mohan (hypothetical name) with her mother came to me for Otoscopic evaluation. Mohan was a case of hyperactivity and mild intellectual disability. He said “Vanakkam” and sat in front of me. I too greeted him “Vanakkam”. Being a small boy of age around six, by showing an Otoscope, I told Mohan -“see this is like a torch. I am going to check your ear to see if any wax is there or not. It will not give you any pain.”  I further explained him that will check both the ear one by one. The boy nodded his head positively and replied “Yes Madam”.

           I checked his right ear first. Immediately Mohan asked “Did you see any wax in my ear? “No, it is very clean” I replied to his question. Soon he asked “you will now check my left ear right?” I said “Yes Dear”. I checked his left ear with Otoscope. I found some wax formation in the ear, so instructed mother about the wax formation. Mohan was curious to know about the status of his left ear too. He asked me “Now I can go home or any further testing will you do?” I smiled and replied him “Yes Mohan, you have to complete one more assessment and then you can go home”. Mohan gave sweet smile and said “Thank you Madam”. The first case during the screening camp I interacted with the client himself. The curiosity of this young chap to know his ear status made me amazed......

           After evaluation of few more clients, one more child with moderate intellectual disability named Krishna (hypothetical name) of aged 10 years came along with his father. We greeted each other – “Vanakkam”.   Before starting evaluation, I showed him an Otoscope and the light from the instrument. Krishna was very cooperative. He sat quietly with wearing sweet smile on his face. As usual I first checked his right ear. It has been observed some wax in the canal. To carry out further testing, checked his left ear. It was observed active discharge. I asked his father “Is Krishna having any complain of pain in the ear?” The father immediately told me “Madam, no he never showed any sign of pain. But every day I am cleaning some water coming out of his ear. Is anything serious about it?” To get some more details, I asked his father “since how long he is having this discharge?” Father was now seen to be worried and replied “nearly four months. Sometimes I clean it twice a day too”. I was shocked. To answer him satisfactorily, I directed him to go for complete assessment process. Father looked at me with pain on his face and hiding his tears, asked “Do you suspect Hearing loss?” I replied “we need to complete the whole process. I further added “there is a need to go for ENT assessment process”. Father again asked a question–“one more disability?” I was speechless to this question. Yes, Krishna was having hearing loss too. I took them for further assessment in adjacent room.

         Till the date, being a special educator of Hearing Impairment, that incident made me think over the question asked by father. After couple of days, I came to know that they went for further treatment of his ears.... looking for the light of hope that will soon see Krishna with same innocent sweet smile!!!!!