kochi after a wait of more than two years nearly 403 children with hearing impairment would undergo brainstem evoked response audiometry bera at ernakulam general hospital the test will help the doctors understand the extent of hearing loss and finalise the course of treatment that would help them hear better from december 2014 onwards 7206 newborns were screened for hearing defect at the ernakulam general hospital but the hospital didnt have that facility for running the bera test on 403 kids who were diagnosed with hearing impairment in varying degrees the state government has decided to provide bera equipment to 14 district hospitalsin another three months the government plans to make the screening mandatory in 66 government hospitals that has facilities for child birth government has set aside rs 12 cr for helping people with hearing impairmentcochlear implants are being done for the past five years and we have realised that the results are better if the intervention is early said dr mohammed asheel executive director kerala social security mission kssm to ensure this otoacoustic emission oae testing equipment will be given to 66 government hospitals and bera in 14 hospitalsas per the plan children born in government hospitals will be screened for hearing disabilities within two days there is time till three months for those opting for private sector to get screened using oae test after three months those who have a hearing problem will undergo bera test at six months the child will be given a hearing aid after 18 months if the hearing aid is found to be of no benefit then cochlear implant will be considered between 18 months and two years the child will get audio rehab and by the time they would be ready to go for school they would be perfectly finecochlear implants are being done for the past five years and we have realised that the results are better if the intervention is early said dr mohammed asheel executive director kerala social security mission kssm to ensure this otoacoustic emission oae testing equipment will be provided in 66 government hospitals and bera in 14 hospitalsthe hearing screening can detect signs of impairment and congenital auditory problems the child can benefit from necessary early intervention in the form of hearing aids or cochlear implants said dr asheelone in 25000 children in india are born deaf in kerala the prevalence is less due to awareness and successful immunisation programme there are about 200 children born deaf in the state every year