Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Ananthan

UNDERSTAND THE DISABLED : K.Murali, Director, Deaf Leaders, conducting an orientation programme in sign language at KG Hospital in Coimbatore on Saturday.

COIMBATORE: Doctors should understand the basics of sign language.

The hearing impaired will then find it easier to explain their problems to the doctor, K.Murali, Director of Deaf Leaders, an organisation working for the empowerment of people with hearing impairment, said here on Saturday.

At an orientation programme organised by Deaf Leaders for doctors at K.G.Hospital, Mr.Murali spoke about the need for medical practitioners to be aware of sign language and being able to communicate with people with hearing and speech impairment.

For most of the people with hearing impairment, going to a hospital is a mammoth task, as very few hospital staff who understood sign language, he added.

Coimbatore had over 300 adults and 250 children with hearing impairment and there were only eight schools teaching sign language. People with hearing impairment worked in Government offices, banks, private organisations, but societal stigma against them was still one of the greatest challenges, Mr.Murali said.

Chairman of K.G.Hospital, G.Bakthavathsalam, said that the hospital would take interest in training its staff in sign language.

“The hospital will become one that is friendly to the hearing impaired,” he said.