About

The Kenya Society for Deaf Children (KSDC) is a non-profit making non-governmental organization, which was established in 1958 to address the rights, needs and interests of hearing impaired children in Kenya in the areas of Health, Education and General Welfare.

The Society was established by philanthropist medics after they identified increasing cases of children with speech and hearing disorders at the then King George VI Hospital (Now Kenyatta National Hospital). The initial activities included setting up speech and hearing clinics in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru, before venturing into establishment of schools for the Deaf.

The Society recognizes the highly inadequate and inaccessible ear and hearing care services and facilities in the country which has led to increasing cases of avoidable deafness and hearing loss in Kenya. From our research KSDC has established that majority of deafness is caused by preventable rather than hereditary causes, with the single leading cause being Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM). This preventable and treatable condition is aggravated by lower levels of hygiene in the rural areas as well as urban slums.

Majority of Kenyans remain unaware of the causes of hearing loss, and do not seek prevention or find early intervention when need arises. Worse still, most healthcare centers of level four and below do not have proper Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) facilities. Early identification and intervention on deafness is lacking, with most parents only able to identify deafness among their children through delayed milestones in regard to speech acquisition. Combined with negative cultural practices, many children delay starting school or go through school unassessed, with poor performance due to reduced hearing. In the worst case scenarios, the children drop out of school and are regarded as ‘retarded’ by the community.

Towards better Health, the society focusses on primary and secondary prevention of deafness through appropriate intervention programs. The society conducts free ear camps aimed at identification, assessment and placement of hearing impaired children through provision of audiological equipment, materials and training of selected ENT staff across the country. KSDC is a leading dispenser of low cost quality Hearing Aids for the Hard of Hearing Persons in Kenya.