emirates7 - Each May, the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), through its Sharjah Hearing Centre (SHC), marks International Speech-Language-Hearing Month with a campaign aimed at raising awareness about auditory, speech, and language health. The initiative focuses especially on the early identification of hearing and speech issues to improve quality of life, particularly for children. It also stresses the importance of regular hearing assessments, the detection of communication disorders, and the provision of preventive and rehabilitative care.
Marwa Abdul Fattah Madi, who heads the Sharjah Hearing Centre, highlighted the centre’s activities during the awareness month, which include offering free hearing tests to schoolchildren. Public awareness sessions are also held to educate the community about the significance of early detection and effective management of hearing-related conditions.
Madi described SHC as a leading facility in the UAE and the region for auditory healthcare, providing a wide array of services to diagnose, evaluate, and treat hearing and communication challenges. The centre prioritises early intervention for children and ensures that individuals of all ages have access to the latest hearing technologies.
She further noted that the centre delivers comprehensive services to the broader community, ranging from hearing tests for infants to elderly individuals, to programming and maintaining hearing aids and cochlear implants. The SHC also offers family counseling and training sessions for parents and educators to help them better support individuals with hearing difficulties.
Over the past year alone, SHC delivered more than 1,000 services, including hearing assessments and device-related support, benefiting over 450 individuals from across various emirates. Additionally, the centre organised more than 13 awareness events targeting families and the wider public.
Madi also pointed out that seven of the SHC's speech and hearing professionals have received official licensure from the Ministry of Health and Prevention. This milestone reflects the team’s adherence to high professional standards, alignment with national regulations, and the centre’s commitment to evidence-based, person-focused care.
Alaa Saif Al Itr, who leads the Speech and Language Council at SCHS, emphasized that the awareness month provides an ideal platform to underscore the critical role of early detection and intervention in addressing communication disorders. She reiterated the Council’s aim to educate the public about speech and language challenges and to highlight the role of specialists in evaluation, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and long-term support.
As part of these efforts, Al Itr announced a forum titled **“Bilingualism: Challenges and Opportunities”**, designed to deepen both scientific and societal understanding of communication issues related to bilingualism. The forum will feature a scientific presentation on the latest research and methods, a panel discussion on the educational and psychological aspects of bilingual language use, and a real-life account of a girl who overcame bilingual challenges and achieved academic success.
The forum aims to foster dialogue among professionals, parents, scholars, and educators, encouraging broader, more inclusive conversations about bilingualism in diverse cultural contexts.
Additionally, the Council is partnering with the Ajad Centre for Training and Development to offer a series of instructional and hands-on sessions. These aim to enhance the skills of practitioners and introduce them to the latest rehabilitation and therapeutic techniques.
Lastly, seven of the Council’s speech and language experts have also received professional licences from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, highlighting their high level of competency and Sharjah’s dedication to delivering world-class therapeutic services.
Marwa Abdul Fattah Madi, who heads the Sharjah Hearing Centre, highlighted the centre’s activities during the awareness month, which include offering free hearing tests to schoolchildren. Public awareness sessions are also held to educate the community about the significance of early detection and effective management of hearing-related conditions.
Madi described SHC as a leading facility in the UAE and the region for auditory healthcare, providing a wide array of services to diagnose, evaluate, and treat hearing and communication challenges. The centre prioritises early intervention for children and ensures that individuals of all ages have access to the latest hearing technologies.
She further noted that the centre delivers comprehensive services to the broader community, ranging from hearing tests for infants to elderly individuals, to programming and maintaining hearing aids and cochlear implants. The SHC also offers family counseling and training sessions for parents and educators to help them better support individuals with hearing difficulties.
Over the past year alone, SHC delivered more than 1,000 services, including hearing assessments and device-related support, benefiting over 450 individuals from across various emirates. Additionally, the centre organised more than 13 awareness events targeting families and the wider public.
Madi also pointed out that seven of the SHC's speech and hearing professionals have received official licensure from the Ministry of Health and Prevention. This milestone reflects the team’s adherence to high professional standards, alignment with national regulations, and the centre’s commitment to evidence-based, person-focused care.
Alaa Saif Al Itr, who leads the Speech and Language Council at SCHS, emphasized that the awareness month provides an ideal platform to underscore the critical role of early detection and intervention in addressing communication disorders. She reiterated the Council’s aim to educate the public about speech and language challenges and to highlight the role of specialists in evaluation, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and long-term support.
As part of these efforts, Al Itr announced a forum titled **“Bilingualism: Challenges and Opportunities”**, designed to deepen both scientific and societal understanding of communication issues related to bilingualism. The forum will feature a scientific presentation on the latest research and methods, a panel discussion on the educational and psychological aspects of bilingual language use, and a real-life account of a girl who overcame bilingual challenges and achieved academic success.
The forum aims to foster dialogue among professionals, parents, scholars, and educators, encouraging broader, more inclusive conversations about bilingualism in diverse cultural contexts.
Additionally, the Council is partnering with the Ajad Centre for Training and Development to offer a series of instructional and hands-on sessions. These aim to enhance the skills of practitioners and introduce them to the latest rehabilitation and therapeutic techniques.
Lastly, seven of the Council’s speech and language experts have also received professional licences from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, highlighting their high level of competency and Sharjah’s dedication to delivering world-class therapeutic services.