Case Story - Gangamma
Gangamma with her grandfather
Gangamma, who was named Shivagangamma by her parents because she was born on the auspicious night of Shivarathri, was born in 2001. She was the first-born child of her parents who were struggling to set up life independently and she was left in the care of her grandparents. She was identified as deaf at the age of 2 when she did not respond even to very loud sounds. At the time, her family did not feel the need to take her to any doctor or to get her hearing tested.
VAANI’s partner in Karnataka, SAMUHA, identified the child and have convinced the family on the importance of getting appropriate hearing aids. Ganagamma now occasionally wears her hearing aids at home. Earlier the child was withdrawn and not very communicative, but because of help from CBR professionals and counseling for the family members, she now attends the local anganwadi school and mixes well with all other children. Her family now uses both speech and gestures with her and she is able to indicate what she would like to eat.
Gangamma is mainly looked after by her grand father, who spends time working with her with the pictures given to them by the CBR workers. Though he is not educated himself, he is able to get her to match pictures and both of them enjoy looking at pictures of birds, fish and flowers.