The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) has called on the government to liaise with relevant institutions to correct some misconceptions associated with hearing loss in the country.

The Association has observed that certain societal attitudes and prejudices towards hearing-impaired persons are affecting the rate at which people disclose their hearing challenges.

In a statement marking the World Hearing Day on March 3, GNAD said more concerted efforts could be made to ensure people with hearing issues seek medical attention timely.

“As we join the international community to observe World Hearing Day, the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) wishes to re-echo WHO’s warning that hearing loss, if not identified and addressed early, can have far-reaching consequences. This may include adverse impacts on language development, psychosocial well-being, and educational attainment.”

“Like most persons with disabilities, the majority of people with hearing loss are stigmatised, marginalised and lack access to essential resources for their development. A large number of people have not been screened for early detection for appropriate intervention because the service is not available to them,” the statement said.

As part of efforts to sensitise people on the medical condition, the Association wants government to resource the existing screening and assessment centres to “ensure that children of school-going age have access to early screening for identification of hearing loss for early interventions.”

“Over 80% of children who have varying degrees of hearing loss in Ghana are not in school or have no access to specialised teacher or appropriate interventions such as Ghanaian Sign language. Existing evidence have shown that hearing loss affects the educational attainment of deaf children of school going age in Ghana.”

“It is estimated, for example, that one in three deaf children missed out of education during the first four years of schooling, which can have negative implications on their future development. This situation could be mitigated through early screening, which is crucial in identifying children for early, effective interventions,” the statement added.

Persons with Disability Act (Act 715)

The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) wants the National Council on Persons with Disabilities to expedite action towards the re-enactment of the revised Persons with Disability Act (Act 715).

This, it says, will help to enhance access to, and use of the Ghanaian sign language.

“The GNAD wishes to remind the state that one of the key interventions recommended by the WHO for people with hearing loss is age-appropriate sign languages. In the context of Ghana, the appropriate language is the Ghanaian Sign Language.”

“This recommendation from WHO both consonances with international best practices and suitable for Ghana, where medical technology, such as hearing aid devices, language therapy and advance technology are expensive or non-existence.”

The 2022 World Hearing Day is themed "To Hear For Life, Listen With Care."