Students in selected schools in the Agona East and West Districts in the Central Region have benefited from a three day hearing screening exercise.

The exercise was organised by the Agona Duakwa Salvation Army Community Based Rehabilitation project for persons with disability in collaboration with Centre for Hearing and Speech Services (CHSS) at the Department of Special Education (SPED) of the University of Education, Winneba.

Dr. Yaw Nyadu Offei, the head of the Centre for Hearing Speech Services – UEW who is also an audiologist, in his situational Reports on the exercise conducted at the Agona – Nsaba Methodist B Primary, Agona Duakwa Salvation Army Basic School and Agona Swedru Salvation Army School for the Deaf on 27th, 28th, 29th, July 2015 said, the exercise was to identify Ear and Hearing problems among the pupils early enough to be able to intervene early.

He said, in Ghana, several people both adult and children are living with hearing difficulties that may be interfering significantly with the academic performance or day-to-day activities.

Nonetheless, most parents, guardians and teachers are not aware of these problems, therefore punish these children wrongly.

“This exercise is meant to bring such problems and based on our results, we can educate the teachers, pupils and their families on hearing impairments and their implications.

During the screening, wax and other foreign materials were removed from the Ear Canals from most of the pupils, and these are likely to affect the academic performance or daily activities.

"You can see Teachers of these schools happy and appreciated the work done by the team and we will continue assisting these venerable children across Ghana”, he added.

Dr. Yaw Nyadu Offei also advised teachers, parents and families to be patient with pupils/children who react slowly or who may not react appropriately to task that demand answers and said Ghanaians should collaborate with the Centre to help address these challenges.

Mr Allan Affedzie, the Agona East District Coordinator for Special and Inclusive Education said, poor parental attitude and the lack of quality welfare to the children sometimes makes it difficult to identify the early signs of hearing Challenges among the Pupils and called for urgent attitudinal change to help improve educational standard in the district.

At Agona – Duakwa, the headmaster of Salvation Army Basic School, Mrs. Lydia Frimpomaa Boateng, thanked the team for the exercise and said; screening for hearing and vision should be carried out at least twice a year in order to promote effective teaching and learning especially schools in the remote areas in the district.

Mr. Kenneth I.K. Otutu, the Rehabilitation Field Officer Agona Nsaba Methodist “B” said his outfit will continue to Partner the University of Education hearing Centre to give quality healthcare to pupils to ensure sound education.

Eighty (80) pupils were screened at the Salvation Army School for the Deaf to remove obstruction in the ear canals, which can cause pains, itching and discomfort.

It will also help the audiologists and the teachers to know the current hearing levels of Hearing Impaired pupils for monitoring and educational management in the country.

In all, four hundred and forty four (444) pupils and fifteen (15) teachers totalling four hundred and fifty nine (459) were screened in the three schools in the Agona East District and Agona West municipality.

He urged the public to contact the University of Education (Centre for hearing and speech Services), Box 25 Winneba or Email: ynyaduoffei@gmail.com OR chass@uew.edu.gh for more enquiries and successful Tympanometry, Counselling Services, Pure Tone Audiometric Test, Hearing Aid fitting and Repair, Ear impression and Mould Making as well as Basic Ear Care services.