LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 16:1 January 2016
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Awareness on Communication Disorders in Hospet Taluk of Karnataka:
A Preliminary Survey Report

Madhu Sudharshan Reddy. B
Dr. Jayashree C. Shanbal
Arunraj. K

Abstract

Background: Awareness about any condition is considered to be the first step in the prevention of any disorder. Similarly, understanding the level of awareness with respect to literacy is an essential to create awareness as part of primary prevention activities. However, in Indian context, there is dearth of documented evidence on studying the awareness of communication disorders in the general population. Hence, the present study was aimed to understand the level of awareness among the people towards communication disorders and its relation to literacy.

Method: In an experimental survey research, 145 volunteers in the age range of 19 to 67 years were considered. A Questionnaire was developed as part of the study which consisted of six close ended ‘YES-NO’ type questions. The questionnaire was administered by the investigator to all the participants.

Results: Results on frequency distribution revealed that the 79.18% 114 of 145) of people rated as ‘YES’ and 19.55% (31 of 145) said as ‘NO’. Further, quantitative (analysis was done through crosstabs analysis to study the effect of literacy on level of awareness on communication disorders. With respect to literacy towards awareness, 80.13% of the literate group answered ‘YES’, and 19.88% rated as ‘NO’. Similarly, 70.23% illiterates rated as ‘YES’ and 29.76% rated as ‘NO’. Results of the chi-squire test revealed that there was no significant association (p>0.05) seen between literates and illiterates for all the questions except for awareness on ‘effect of music on hearing’ (literates showed awareness of the problem than illiterates).

Conclusion: To conclude, the present study emphasized on high awareness of communication disorders in the general public of Hospet Taluk of Bellary district.

Keywords: Awareness, communication disorders, ‘YES-NO’ type questions, questionnaire, literacy, Karnataka, India.

Introduction

Communication is multimodal. Communication refers to the sending and receiving of messages, information, ideas or feelings (Hulit & Howard, 2002). The process of communication is enhanced by the use of facial expressions, gestures, eye gaze along with speech. In the process of communication, language is considered an essential part of human interaction and transmission of information. Language has been defined by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Committee on Language, 1982) as a “complex and dynamic system of conventional symbols that is used in various modes for thought and communication” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1982). On the other hand, speech is considered the vocal utterance of language (McKibbin, 1995). Hearing is defined as the sense that perceives sound and the process by which sound is perceived. Disturbance in communication in terms of speech, language and hearing can lead to some form of communication disorders. The field of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology deals with understanding speech, language and hearing mechanisms, also deals with communication disorders and its prevention at various levels. These levels include primary prevention, secondary and tertiary prevention of communication disorders. According to American Speech and Hearing Association (1991), Primary prevention refers to the “elimination or inhibition of the onset and development of communication disorder by altering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible persons” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1988). Although Speech, language and hearing problems are not always identified and treated especially in rural areas, their incidence and prevalence is more (Census of India, 2001). The factors like ageing, growth in population, materialization of medical advancement, presence of chronic diseases, generating irresistible demands for health and rehabilitation services result in the increase of the people with disabilities (Srivastava & Khan, 2008).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Madhu Sudharshan Reddy. B.
Speech Language Pathologist-Grade I
Department of Prevention of Communication Disorders
All India Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570 006
Karnataka
India
madhusudarshan@rocketmail.com

Dr. Jayashree C. Shanbal
Reader in Language Pathology &
Head, Department of Prevention of communication disorders
All India Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570 006
Karnataka
India
jshanbal@yahoo.co.in

Arunraj. K
Clinical Assistant
Department of Audi
ology All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore
Mysore 570 006
Karnataka
India
nahularun@gmail.com
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