Poor hearing & vision a rising issue in school kids, reveals a survey by Lucknow based Stufit

With the emergence of phones, TVs and now iPads, the medical threat that our children face is now more, than ever. Injured knees, dirty clothes and playing outdoors have now become things of the past, as the apps that mimic your hand gestures seem to have now replaced the actual movements. Echoing our biggest fears, in the populous state of Uttar Pradesh, a survey conducted by a Stufit has revealed some shocking results. According to the survey, almost 25% of children in the state’s schools have been found to be suffering from ear ailments.

Importance of early diagnosis in children

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The survey was undertaken by a Lucknow based health-tech start-up called Stufit, in which over 1,000 school-going children from Jhansi, Lakhimpur Kheri and Lucknow were surveyed for early detection of medical conditions. Out of these, over 23.4% of children aged between 7 and 14 years, were found to be suffering from ear disease.

Reportedly, the prime reason for ear diseases found in almost 12.8% of cases, was excessive earwax followed by middle ear infection also known as otitis media. Dr Shruti Srivastava, who heads the audiologist team at Stufit, said "children have been exposed to ear and hearing problems from time to time by their parents and teachers, especially during their school years."

Oral & poor vision, a source of concern in kids

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S Haider, director of the start-up said, "Schools should offer a health report card along with a school report card for children. This way, various types of health problems can be dealt with in a timely manner."

With the intention of detecting medical conditions in the early stages, the survey highlighted that 32% of students complained of poor vision. Among those surveyed, 40% reported poor or average levels of endurance and stamina. Over 44% of children were also reported to suffer from poor to average oral and dental problems.

- With inputs from IANS