On World Hearing Day, which is marked every year on 3 March, HRH Crown Princess Katherine reminds once again about the great importance of preserving hearing and preventive examinations that mean a lot and can change lives for the better, significantly contributing to their quality if the problem with hearing is determined on time.
This year, the theme of World Hearing Day is “Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”, and the focus is on overcoming the challenges posed by societal misperceptions and stigmatizing mindsets through awareness-raising and information-sharing, targeted at the public and health care providers. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated: “Hearing loss has often been referred to as an “invisible disability”, not just because of the lack of visible symptoms, but because it has long been stigmatized in communities and ignored by policymakers”.
Hearing loss can have a significant impact on an individual’s daily life, affecting communication, professional opportunities, and emotional well-being. Therefore, we urge everyone to take steps to protect their ears and to inform themselves about prevention measures.
“I believe that no newborn baby should leave the hospital without a three-minute hearing test to check for hearing problems. Every hospital should be able to do this test and parents should be encouraged to have their children take this test, so they can be sure that everything is fine. Adults also need to take care of their hearing. Everyone in the world knows what a beautiful feeling it is to hear the voice of a loved one. I would like as many people as possible to enjoy that sound. We cannot correct some congenital defects, but that is why we must do everything in our power to minimize their consequences as much as possible, so that everyone can have a better and more fulfilled life”, said HRH Crown Princess Katherine.
To improve preventive measures, it is especially necessary to emphasize the importance of hearing screening in new-borns. Early recognition and treatment of possible hearing problems in new-borns can significantly improve a child’s quality of life. Neonatal screening is critical in identifying potential problems early in life, often before symptoms become apparent. This process allows parents and medical staff to quickly take the necessary steps to ensure the best support for the child’s auditory development.
HRH Crown Princess Katherine founded the Hearing Screening Committee, which advocates that new-born hearing screening is mandatory in all maternity hospitals, and therefore emphasizes the importance of testing before babies leave hospital. If detected in time, the hearing loss can be corrected using a hearing aid or a cochlear implant, and it will not affect the child’s speech abilities, so that further development will follow a normal course.
In cooperation with Lifeline Humanitarian Organization offices abroad, whose patron is Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess’ Foundation in Belgrade helps people with impaired hearing and donates necessary equipment to hospitals in Serbia and Republika Srpska.
Last month, the Foundation donated 10 devices for neonatal hearing screening to general hospitals in Aleksinac, Valjevo, Vrbas, Vranje, Vrsac, Kikinda, Paracin, Pozarevac, Smederevo and Cuprija. The events at which the necessary funds for this donation were raised were organized by Lifeline Canada, following the vision of providing much-needed support to the improvement of health care for new-borns and children throughout Serbia.
HRH Crown Princess Katherine has also collaborated with Dr. Daniel Djuraskovic Megler, an American otolaryngologist of Serbian origin, and Mrs Ardis J. Gardela, president of “The Holley Institute” in Detroit, to organize educational trips for hearing-impaired children and their teachers to a special camp in Detroit since 2015 to 2017. After a successful workshop and exchange of experiences in Michigan, in 2017, a summer camp for hearing-impaired children was organized for the first time in Serbia. Through several workshops, children had the opportunity to participate in art and drama groups, socialize and make new friends, as well as visit the city’s sights.