The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, recently held a one-day audiology workshop for   nursery school teachers from Georgetown, in the Conference Room of the National Library. Audiology is the study of hearing disorders, including the  evaluation of hearing function  and rehabilitation of patients with hearing impairments.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr.Ruth Quaicoe of the Audiology Department of the Georgetown Public  Hospital  Corporation(GPHC), and the topics covered were:  
Anatomy/How we hear
Risk Factors for Hearing Impairment
Role of the teacher in educating the hearing-impaired child
Identifying hearing impairment
Speech Therapy and
Quick screening before referral
Ms  Bissoondai Deoram, Education Officer for the Georgetown Education District, in the Ministry of Education,  was present at the workshop. In an invited comment to this newspaper, Ms. Bissoondai placed the event within the context of the education ministry’s focus on special education needs which, she stated, is one of the priorities  in the National Education Strategic Plan. Accordingly, teachers are being trained to deal with children at all levels of the school who have special needs ,with a view to having them mainstreamed into the  system.  
According to Dr. Ruth Quaicoe, facilitator of the workshop and Head of the Audiology Department of the GPHC,  the workshop would be the first in a series to be held nationwide, aimed at early detection of hearing loss or hearing impairment.
Caption: Workshop participants pose for a photo opportunity with staff of the Audiology Department. Sitting  at centre is Dr.Ruth Quaicoe,Head of the Audiology Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.