Madras ENT Research Foundation Private Limited

“Hearing loss” is a major public health concern in India, affecting millions of individuals across all age groups with a significant social and economic impact. It is the most common sensory impairment in the new born and is a “Double tragedy” because a child who cannot hear cannot develop speech and language and becomes a deaf mute. It is often referred to as a “Silent handicap”, left undiagnosed in many individuals, deaf individuals do not get sympathized like the blind and hearing loss in older adults is associated with social isolation, depression and cognitive decline.

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Community based hearing screening programs therefore play a vital role in identifying hearing loss at its earliest stages, facilitating prompt treatment and improving long term outcomes. Prof. Mohan Kameswaran established our community ENT department in the year 2007 with a strong determination to reach out to the needy. The department was started to address the need for a specialty hospital and a research unit like ours to reach out to the rural masses to:​

1. Diagnose and establish the prevalence of hearing loss.

2. Educate the public about the options and various solutions available.

3. Carry out minor interventions at the village level wherever possible

4. Transport and bring children and adults who are in need of detailed investigations and treatment to the main facility in Chennai

 

The department is deeply committed to promoting Ear, Nose, Throat and Head and Neck health beyond the walls of the institution. Since the time of its inception the department has been carrying out various social activities time and again by way of free ENT and hearing screening camps and surgeries for the needy patients. Our camps are organized in rural communities, schools, orphanages, senior citizen homes, workplaces, underserved regions ensuring that quality healthcare reaches those people who may have limited access to specialized ENT health care services. The screening camps are conducted by experienced ENT specialists, audiologists and trained healthcare professionals using modern diagnostic equipments.

 

Dr. S. Sudhamaheswari, consultant ENT surgeon is in charge of this department since 2007. As the Head of the community ENT department she has played a pivotal role in extending ENT healthcare to the underprivileged people of the society. She has contributed significantly to the early identification and management of ENT disorders among diverse populations through hundreds of community outreach camps, screening programs and awareness initiatives. Her dedication to community service continues to strengthen the institution’s mission of accessible and equitable healthcare.

 

The activities of the department include​

1. Free newborn hearing screening at Saidapet Maternity hospital every week on Monday and Thursday.

2. Free newborn hearing screening and Speech clinic at Institute of child health, Egmore every week on Tuesday and Friday

3. Free hearing and speech and language services and ENT evaluation for children with Down's syndrome.

4. Free ENT examination and audiological testing with hearing aid trial for the hearing impaired referred from Palanpur Jain association which is a social welfare organization

5. Periodical free hearing screening camps all over Tamil Nadu for children under 12 years of age in association with the Rotary club of Chennai.

6. Free ENT camps in and around Chennai and also in other distant places in Tamil Nadu in association with Rotary and Lions clubs and other voluntary social welfare organizations

7. Advanced ENT and audiological evaluation if needed for the patients examined in the camps is done at a very low cost depending upon their socioeconomic status.

8. ENT and Head and neck surgeries are also performed at a very low cost for poor patients diagnosed to have ENT and head and neck diseases during camps

9. The necessary investigations and preoperative work up is done at very nominal charges for camp patients