Sustainability Report

Institute Overview: The Bangalore Speech and Hearing Trust was founded in February 1977 by Dr. SR Chandrasekhar, an eminent ENT surgeon, to address the lack of clinical services for speech and hearing disorders in Bangalore. The institute’s objectives were to provide clinical services, raise public awareness about communication disorders and noise, and conduct research. Over the years, it expanded its services to include education and training programs for the hearing-impaired and other disabled individuals. The institute is organized into four verticals: Clinical, Outreach, Academic, and Research.

Attributes of the Institute

Legacy: The Institute has been operational for 46 years, maintaining a strong work culture and attracting clients and students from various states.
Financial Sustainability: The institute became almost self-sufficient through funding from the Government of Karnataka, Lions Club, Rotary International, Action Aid India, and private donors.
Client-Centric Approach: “Clients first always” is the institute’s motto, ensuring maximum benefit to those seeking help for communication disorders.

Services Provided by the Institute: The Bangalore Speech and Hearing Trust offers a wide range of diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive services to address speech, language, and hearing disabilities. Its services contribute to mainstreaming disabled individuals and improving their social and economic sustainability. The institute’s outreach programs, including mobile clinics, cater to rural areas and underprivileged populations.

Unique Programs for Long-Term Impact:

Sunaad Kannada School: Provides education and support to children with hearing loss, enabling them to communicate in their mother tongue since 1988. Currently it is support by Child Centric Grant , Govt. of Karnataka, in addition to continued support of Lions Club of Bangalore East. A large number of children who passed out are employed and earn salaries ranging from 15-20000 INR.
Empowering Mothers Program: Supports parents, particularly mothers, in assisting their children’s development through training and education. In the last decade, the children have achieved high grades in education.
Cochlear Implant Program: Offers cochlear implants to those not aided by hearing aids, enabling access to hearing. Children with implants communicate well and many have joined Engineering, , MBA and other degrees.
Communication DEALL: An early intervention program for children with developmental disorders, promoting holistic development for integration into regular schools since 23 years. A large number of children are doing well in regular schools.
Parents support network: Parents of disabled children also undergo a third part disability in terms of activity and financial restrictions. To enable parents to support each other in their disability, and offer solutions to each other, this network was formed.
Toy Library: Many children that come to the institute do not have toys or books. To support them, a toy library was formed. Children could borrow toys, books and return them.
Sign Language Unit: Provides short-term courses on sign language, creating awareness and assisting hearing-impaired individuals.
School for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder– is for older children with autism spectrum disorder. These children learn to cope with higher education and some join NIOS, the National Open school for slow learners (also run by the Institute)
Learning Disability: Therapy and training for children with Learning Disability and their parents for children with reading, writing difficulties. The psychology department also provides behaviour therapy for children with communication disorders.
Physiotherapy and therapy for sensory integration, required in communication disorders. The institute was the first ( in speech and hearing college) to provide all round therapeutic services in the country.
Mobile Speech and Hearing Unit: The success of the use of the mobile speech and Hearing Unit to reach the unreached for the past 10 years in which more than 20,000 persons were screened. Currently, the institute has two buses with the following facilities.
Bus1– The mobile bus is a sound treated vehicle enable the seating of clinicians for travel and “rooms to test. It has a hydraulic controlled steps, where a wheel chair can be taken, air conditioning and has a power generator funded by is obtained through Lions club of International Foundation (LCIF)
There are three ”rooms”- Two are sound treated, one for testing babies, one for adults and older children. The bus is equipped with pure tone audiometer, otoacoustic analyzer, middle ear analyser, and otoscope. Furniture required to seat clients also present. The bus is registered to travel within the state and obtained in 2016.
Bus 2: is smaller, but has similar facilities with only two rooms for testing.

Academics and Human Resource Development: The Institute offers undergraduate, Postgraduate courses & a Doctoral program in speech and hearing through MAHE, Manipal producing skilled clinicians employed in various sectors. The institute is also applied to Bengaluru North University (BNU) for doctoral program recognition.

Inclusion and Stakeholder Engagement: The institute involves staff and students in development and outreach programs, regularly obtaining feedback for continuous improvement. Gender diversity is encouraged through the WE committee.

Ethical Fundraising and Resource Allocation: The institute raises funds through fairs, and CSR initiatives, ensuring responsible allocation of resources for program implementation.

Research and Impact: The Bangalore Speech and Hearing Research Foundation (BSHRF) was established to drive research initiatives, enhancing the institute’s presence in the international arena. The BSHRF has MOU with MAHE – Manipal to enable the staff to register for PH. D. The institute initiated a scientific journal to promote knowledge creation.

Sustainability Initiatives:

Rural Satellite Center: The institute established a satellite center in Pavagada to provide services to the backward taluk population.
CSR Projects: Secured CSR grants from SBI Foundation to upgrade clinical facilities.
Cognizant Foundation & Tech Mahindra Foundation provided support for education of children with hearing-impaired. Members of Cognizant Foundation & Tech Mahindra Foundation taught teachers to use the technology appropriately and increase learning in the children.

Future plans

Centre for Academy of Excellence in Speech and Hearing : Bangalore Speech and Hearing Trust (BSHT) has purchased 4 acres of land at Bagalur adjoining lake for DRSRCISH to establish Centre for Academy of Excellence in Speech and Hearing. It is planned to construct a world class centre.

Project Banyan School based SLP service: To identify children with learning disabilities, the project was initiated to educate the teachers to find those that need support.

Extension of Neonatal hearing screening: Neonatal screening has been conducted for more than a decade as a part of the Institute Social Responsibility. It is been offered in more hospitals Dr.Babu Jaga Jevan Hospital, C.V.Raman , KC General.

Conclusion: The Bangalore Speech and Hearing Trust has demonstrated remarkable progress in its 46 years of existence, providing valuable services and creating a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with communication disorders. Its commitment to sustainability, ethical fundraising, research, and stakeholder engagement reinforces its status as a model institute in the field of speech and hearing disorders.