On Thursday, former Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee was seen in Jammu and Kashmir where he has reportedly discussed the importance of screening newborns for early detection of hearing loss. He is is Cochlear’s Global Hearing Ambassador and because of that, he was in the city’s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH) to raise awareness about hearing screening.
Talking about his experience, Lee said, “Today hearing loss is a grave public health concern. Around 34 million children across the globe suffer some form of hearing loss and India has a big population of this. I want to help make sure, that anyone who is living in this world can experience the sounds of joy.”
Lee is actively involved in raising awareness about hearing screening for newborn babies, more so after his son suffered a temporary hearing loss some time ago.
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Describing it further, the veteran fast bowler said, “Parents and family members must not ignore the smallest signs of hearing loss and should take seedy action if diagnosed. Over the past few years, I have personally witnessed how a Cochlear implant takes a person from silence to sound. It is a life-changing moment. Over the past few years, I have personally witnessed how a Cochlear implant takes a person from silence to sound. It is a life-changing moment.”
Lee has met hundreds of cochlear implant recipients across cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Pune, Chandigarh, Kochi, Guwahati, Amritsar and Jaipur and now in Jammu.
Chief Administrative Officer of SMVDNSH, Dr. Man Mohan Harjai expressed his concerns, he said, “In less than a year, our hospital has successfully performed nine Cochlear implant surgeries and we are delighted when we see the progress of our young superstars. It gives us the motivation and drives to continue working to make our state free of hearing impairment.”
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On Lee also praised the state for early diagnosis of hearing disability and its effective treatment in India.
The pacer concluded, “I can’t imagine cricket without sound – on the field not hearing the appeals and the crowd, off the field not hearing team mates, or at home not hearing family. I can’t imagine it. A cochlear implant can change all of that. I’ve seen it happen. The implant takes a person from silence to sound. It is a wonderful, life-changing moment.”
