Ahmedabad: Health Minister Rishikesh Patel inaugurated Gujarat’s first College of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology today at the Government Spine Institute in Ahmedabad Civil MediCity.

The College of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, established at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore, is located at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Here, a wide range of issues, including speech and language disorders, language development, voice disorders, speech disorders, regurgitation, swallowing disorders, comprehension disorders, hoarseness, and hearing disorders, will be thoroughly investigated, diagnosed, and treated. The college will also provide all necessary arrangements for post-cochlear implant surgery sessions for children.

This institution is poised to be a boon for hearing-impaired children. Notably, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital is recognised as the largest public hospital in Asia, attracting patients from across the country and the world. With the addition of this new college, patients with hearing issues will now have easy access to treatment at minimal cost.

Under the school health programme, over 3000 children have undergone free cochlear implant surgery across the state in the last 10 years. The approximate cost of such surgery is Rs. 7 lakhs per patient, and the state has covered the expenses, amounting to around Rs. 210 crores. This college will play a crucial role in providing effective post-surgery sessions.

The launch event was attended by Health Minister Rishikesh Patel, Directors, Superintendents, and Deans of Medical Colleges from various hospitals in MediCity. Additionally, Pratibha Jain, the Mayor of Ahmedabad, and Darshanaben Vaghela, MLA from the Asarwa area, were also present. DeshGujarat