Hearing loss is an invisible but deeply isolating problem, especially in older adults. In rural Tamil Nadu, where access to specialist care is limited, even mild hearing impairment can lead to a reduced quality of life. The new Audiology Clinic at RUHSA will provide life-changing hearing assessments and care for those who would otherwise go without.
This much-needed facility is being set up by RUHSA in partnership with the ENT department at CMC Vellore, and supported by the Vellore Rural Communities Trust (VRCT). It will offer affordable, community-based services close to people’s homes, removing the barriers of cost, distance and low health literacy. The clinic will also support village-level screening programmes, with local health workers and teachers helping to identify those in need.
The clinic will include soundproof testing rooms, specialist equipment and a trained audiologist, with plans to expand mobile screening and school-based checks in future. It will serve children, adults, and elderly people in remote and underserved areas. Over 60% of elderly people screened in trial camps were found to have hearing loss, underlining the urgent need for local services.
This project is designed to be practical, inclusive, and sustainable. The audiology centre will save families time and money while helping individuals regain independence and dignity. It will also reduce the burden on CMC’s main hospital and support better mental and social wellbeing in rural communities.
The project budget is outlined below:
| Audiology equipment | £15,700 |
| Soundproofing (panels, doors, insulation, etc.) | £5,300 |
| Civil works and air conditioning | £1,200 |
| Audiologist support (partial salary, 2 years) | £3,600 |
| Total | £25,800 |
Friends of Vellore UK is now seeking to raise £20,000, having sent some initial start up costs.
Friends of Vellore UK 