According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department, every year during International Week of the Deaf, attention is drawn to thousands of children and adults who, while unable to hear, possess unique abilities and require society’s recognition, inclusion, and support. With a strong focus on empowerment, rehabilitation services, and education, the Welfare Organization has implemented a variety of programs aimed at improving the quality of life for these individuals.
In this context, an interview was conducted with Zahra Noeparast, Director-General of the Office for Educational, Vocational, and Medical Rehabilitation of the Welfare Organization.
Noeparast highlighted the population of persons with hearing disabilities under the organization’s coverage, stating:“The purpose of this day is to draw special attention from all organizations and society toward education and empowerment for persons with hearing impairments. Currently, 1.65 million persons with disabilities are supported by the Welfare Organization, of whom around 14 percent—equivalent to 237,000 people—have hearing disabilities. Among them, some 170,000 fall within the moderate, severe, and profound categories.”
She further explained the range of services provided:“Depending on the severity of the disability and the needs of applicants, the Welfare Organization delivers a variety of services—from financial support such as caregiver allowances for severe and profound cases, to preventive programs like genetic counseling and newborn hearing screening. Early detection and educational rehabilitation are central, as well as the provision of sign language interpreters and efforts to expand the use of sign language. In fact, our services begin even before birth, since hearing loss is the most common congenital disorder, affecting two in every thousand newborns with varying degrees of moderate to severe impairment.”
Noeparast stressed the importance of early diagnosis:“Screening must be carried out within the first month of life, and intervention should occur no later than six months of age, because without hearing, speech development cannot take shape. To ensure timely intervention and rehabilitation, 99 specialized hearing disorder centers and 28 integrated centers are currently active across the country. These centers, operated by the non-governmental sector under the Welfare Organization’s license and supervision, provide daily educational, medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services for eligible children with hearing disorders. The training focuses on communication skills and language development, with an emphasis on maximizing residual hearing and encouraging speech and language use.”
She added that parents also receive diverse services, including counseling on the importance of using assistive devices such as hearing aids. Post-cochlear implant rehabilitation is also provided, along with medical rehabilitation services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and social work support.
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