Let’s break the silence! Identification-Therapy-Inclusion! – National Conference

Let’s break the silence! Identification-Therapy-Inclusion! It is the slogan of the National Conference, which was held on June 30, in support of children with hearing disorders.  

The aim of the conference was to advocate for issues related to primary health care and inclusiveness of children with hearing disorders in education, to present the most successful experiences and models in the field of Audiology and Education, as well as to encourage relevant institutions to improve services for children.

About 3 in 1000 children are born with hearing loss/impairment. In children, almost 60% of hearing loss can be prevented if measures are taken such as performing hearing screening and improving neonatal care for every child. Early identification and treatment of hearing disorders helps children develop speech and cognitive skills, social and emotional development, valuable for their lives and well-being.

In this conference, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Education, AICS Tirana, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” Tirana,

Embassy of Italy in Tirana, Agency for Quality Assurance of Pre-University Education, Institute of Hard of Hearing Students, local and foreign doctors, speech therapists, and parents of children with hearing disorders, together, shared experiences, best practices and models good in the field of Health and Education, the challenges and obstacles faced by children and young people, as well as the measures that need to be taken to prevent hearing disorders and to support access to services as well as their integration.The conference was organized by Save the Children and Independent Forum for the Albanian Woman, supported by AICS Tirana and aimed to promote the importance of improving policies and services for children and young people with hearing disorders, encouraging relevant institutions to support early identification, assessment and treatment new-borns and children, as well as the inclusion of children with hearing disorders at all educational levels