Disability Statistics Research Articles

Functional difficulty among children in Malaysia – findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019

IntroductionData on child functioning and disability are important for public policy development which aimed at reducing child disability prevalence and strengthening the provision of appropriate and timely health care services. This study reports the prevalence of functional difficulty in Malaysian children aged 2–17 years and its associated sociodemographic factors and epilepsy.MethodsData on children aged 2–17 years (n = 4576) were generated from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019, a population-based cross-sectional survey. Functional difficulty in children was assessed using the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)/Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) Child Functioning Module (CFM). The questionnaires were administered to the parents or guardians of the children via face-to-face interviews. Functional difficulty, defined as having difficulty in at least one domain, was examined for its prevalence and associations with sociodemographic variables and the epilepsy variable in children using descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression.ResultsThe overall prevalence of functional difficulty among children aged 2–17 years was 4.7%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that older children, children from households whose heads of household had a lower education level and children who have epilepsy were significantly more likely to experience functional difficulty (p < 0.05). Children of Chinese ethnicity were less likely to experience functional difficulty compared to children of Malay ethnicity.ConclusionsThis study provides baseline findings on the prevalence of functional difficulty among children in Malaysia using nationally representative data. Although the prevalence was relatively low, the information is important for the planning of strategies to improve the development and well-being of children in Malaysia and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Autonomous Navigated IOT Enabled Smart Wheel Chair - A Healthcare and Mobility solution

WHO disability statistics indicate that about 8 million people worldwide, or 1% of the total population, suffer from a mobility handicap. It is also known that the elderly residents in the area cannot move independently. Many hospital patients can force their hand with assistance but cannot move independently. We also understand that real-time health monitoring is necessary for patients, the elderly, and individuals with impairments. Therefore, this work aims to develop and provide a smart wheelchair that can be controlled with a single hand gesture and tracks many health indicators, such as blood pressure, body temperature, oxygen saturation, and pulse rate, using an Internet of Things-based real-time health monitoring system. Users can effortlessly maneuver the wheelchair using simple gesture control enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT), promoting independence and enhancing general well-being. This innovative approach to healthcare and mobility meets users' urgent requirements and establishes a new benchmark for assistive technology, a significant advancement in technology and healthcare. The benefit of this strategy is that the caregiver can view all of these health indicators and the wheelchair user's GPS location using a smartphone application. Taking care of oneself while employed by a firm might be easy.

Cognitive Testing and Piloting of the Bangla Version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning Among Adolescent Girls and Women With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh.

Introduction This study focuses on the cognitive testing and piloting of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioningamong adolescent girls and women with disabilities in selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics developed the questionnaire as a tool to assess the functioning and disability status of individuals. The adaptation of this questionnaire to Bangla is crucial for capturing accurate data on the experiences of adolescent girls and women with disabilities in Bangladesh. Materials and methods The research employs a two-phase approach, starting with cognitive testing to ensure the linguistic and cultural relevance of the translated questionnaire. This phase involves engaging with a sample of the target population to assess the comprehension, clarity, and appropriateness of the questions. Subsequently, a pilot study was conducted in selected sub-districts to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioningin real-world settings. Both of the tests were conducted in March 2023. Results There were different types of participants with different types of disabilities. Information processing, meaning, understanding the questions, thinking, and answering speed or time were different between groups, even though they were different from person to person.The initial assessments indicate strong consistency in responses. Participants demonstrated a favorable response rate, indicating potential effectiveness for broader implementation. Conclusion The current study aims to contribute to disability data collection methodologies, particularly in the context of adolescent girls and women in Bangladesh. The research seeks to empower policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups with a robust instrument of disability screening. Researchers and clinicians may rely on our accurate and validated Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioningtranslation into Bangla when working with adolescent girls and women with disabilities.

Trajetória da identificação das pessoas com deficiência no Brasil: uma análise das pesquisas domiciliares do IBGE

Abstract The present study aims to elucidate the main aspects of recent data production regarding people with disabilities in Brazil. In its first section, a documentary and a bibliographic search is employed to unveil the influence of debates surrounding conceptions of disability concerning statistical information surveys. Subsequently, parameters for the identification of individuals with disabilities are presented in the 2019 National Health Survey (NHS), the 2022 Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Continuous PNAD), and the 2022 Demographic Census. Although these surveys are conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and adhere to the recommendations of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG), they employ distinct questionnaires, requiring careful attention from the users of this data. In the third section, sociodemographic indicators generated from the microdata of the 2019 NHS and the 2022 Continuous PNAD are analyzed in order to elucidate differences between them and contemplate the adoption of a cutoff point to define people with disabilities. It is observed that individuals with more severe difficulties are the ones facing greater challenges in accessing education and the labor market.

Advancing Disability Management in Information Systems: A Novel Approach through Bidirectional Federated Learning-Based Gradient Optimization

Disability management in information systems refers to the process of ensuring that digital technologies and applications are designed to be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. Traditional methods face several challenges such as privacy concerns, high cost, and accessibility issues. To overcome these issues, this paper proposed a novel method named bidirectional federated learning-based Gradient Optimization (BFL-GO) for disability management in information systems. In this study, bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) was utilized to capture sequential disability data, and federated learning was employed to enable training in the BFL-GO method. Also, gradient-based optimization was used to adjust the proposed BFL-GO method’s parameters during the process of hyperparameter tuning. In this work, the experiments were conducted on the Disability Statistics United States 2018 dataset. The performance evaluation of the BFL-GO method involves analyzing its effectiveness based on evaluation metrics, namely, specificity, F1-score, recall, precision, AUC-ROC, computational time, and accuracy and comparing its performance against existing methods to assess its effectiveness. The experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the BFL-GO method for disability management in information systems.

HEALTH PROFILE OF PORTUGUESE CENTENARIANS FROM 2011 TO 2021: AN UPDATE BASED ON NATIONAL CENSUS

Abstract According to the Portuguese National Census, the number of centenarians increased from 1526 (82.1% women) in 2011 to 2801 (82.0% women) in 2021. Along with a description of main sociodemographic characteristics, this paper provides an updated health profile of this population based on their perceived difficulties in six functional domains of basic actions (seeing, hearing, walking, cognition, self-care, and communication) as assessed by a set of questions developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics that is consistent with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Sex differences are also presented, as well as comparisons between data from Census 2011 and Census 2021. Most centenarians show major constraints in their mobility and personal care (76.3% cannot/have great difficulties in walking/climbing stairs, and 72.8% cannot/have great difficulties in bathing/dressing), and a better outcome is reported in communication (64.2% report no/reduced difficulty for understanding/being understood). This profile globally follows the pattern observed in 2011, but with fewer centenarians reporting such level of difficulties. The percentage of centenarians reporting no/reduced difficulties in seeing and hearing increased from 32.6% and 27.7% in 2011, to 54.4% and 44.8% in 2021, respectively. In both censuses, women presented a higher percentage of difficulties in all health-related variables. Globally, this comparative perspective shows improvements in the perceived health profile of the later born cohort of Portuguese centenarians and features the continued need for addressing gender-specific and gender-sensitive interventions that acknowledge older women’s care needs.

Dimensionality and invariance of ADL, IADL, BI-M2/WG-SS, and GALI in large surveys in France (2008–2014) and implications for measuring disability in epidemiology

BackgroundThe epidemiological investigation and surveillance of disability requires well-constructed, invariant, and, if possible, exchangeable measures. However, the current or recommended measures have not been thoroughly investigated with respect to these issues. Here we examined the dimensional structure and invariance of four measures across sociodemographic groups: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Budapest Initiative Mark 2 (BI-M2) and Washington Group on Disability Statistics Short Set (WG-SS), and Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI).MethodsWe used data from three large nationwide representative surveys conducted in France between 2008 and 2014. The surveys included these four measures and classical and modern approaches (correlations, principal component analysis, Rasch modeling) were used to assess their dimensional structure as well as their invariance through differential item functioning (DIF) for sociodemographic characteristics. Polytomous logistic regression models were used to assess gradients in health inequalities associated with these measures.ResultsFor many items of ADL, IADL, and BI-M2/WG-SS, we consistently observed disordered response thresholds, rejection of unidimensionality, and DIF evidence for sociodemographic characteristics across the survey samples. Health inequality gradients were erratic. In addition, it was impossible to identify a common continuum for GALI, ADL, IADL, and BI-M2/WG-SS or their constituent items.ConclusionThis study warns against the current practice of investigating disability in epidemiology using measures that are unsuitable for epidemiological use, incommensurable, and inadequate regarding the basic requisites of dimensionality and invariance. Developing invariant measures and equating them along a common continuum to enlarge the common bases of measurement should therefore be a priority.

Results From Finland's 2022 Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities.

Finland's 2022 Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities includes a summary of results and grades for 10 physical activity indicators and highlights how these grades are interpreted by stakeholders. The disability classification was based on the UNICEF/Washington Group on Disability Statistics measure, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD7) measure, or education status. Data between 2017 and 2021 were reviewed by 24 physical activity specialists using benchmarks adapted for data on disabilities from the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. The grades were assigned as follows: Overall Physical Activity, C+; Organized Sport, C; Active Play, D; Active Transportation, B; Family and Peers, C+; School, B; Community and Environment, C-; Government, A-; sedentary behavior and physical fitness were graded as incomplete. Stakeholder focus-group discussions highlighted the need for multidisciplinary cooperation and increasing competence of specialists working with children to promote a physically active lifestyle for all children.

What cut-off(s) to use with the Washington Group short set of questions?

The Washington Group short set (WG-SS) questions are increasingly integrated into national household surveys, censuses, and international survey programs. They enable the monitoring of disability rights and the production of internationally comparable statistics. Disability statistics on prevalence and inequalities can be estimated using different cut-offs on the degree of functional difficulties based on the WG-SS. This commentary discusses what cut-offs to adopt for the purpose of investigating and monitoring disability gaps. We recommend a three-way disaggregation comparing persons with (a) no difficulty, (b) some difficulty and (c) a lot of difficulty or unable to do. In cases where sample sizes are small for disaggregated analysis, we recommend comparing persons with no difficulty to persons with any level of difficulty (i.e. persons with any disability).

Behind the numbers: Authorities’ approach to measuring disability in Swedish populations from 1860 to 1930

This study investigates the main features of collected disability statistics for the censuses in Sweden, 1860–1930, when the disability prevalence rose from four to 21 individuals per thousand of the population. We use qualitative methods to analyze the means of collecting, categorizing, and defining disability, while quantitative methods help us calculate the prevalence by disability type and gender in urban and rural areas. Our long-term findings reveal that this increase reflects new approaches whereby authorities applied alternative methods to collect disability data, using additional sources, wider definitions, and introducing new disability categories. The temporal variations in disability prevalence were influenced by the social and political context and normative views on who was considered disabled or not.

From experiences to numbers: the production of international disability statistics

The call for internationally comparable data on disability has been omnipresent in recent disability politics. Several attempts have been made to develop and implement a standardized approach toward disability statistics, with the Washington Group Short Census Questions (WGSQ) being the most prominent. How does this questionnaire ‘measure’ disability? How do disability statistics translate the diversity of lived experiences into ‘objective’ numbers? Combining a sociology of quantification and disability studies, this article focuses on the social practices of disability statistics that contribute to the generation of ‘disability’ as a social category. After contextualizing ‘disability’ in international organizations’ discourses, it uses document analysis to empirically reconstruct statistical experts’ recommendations regarding definition, operationalization, data collection, and processing. The analysis shows how binary categorical boundaries are (re)introduced and successively objectified during this process. It also unfolds a risk-based approach that underlies the WGSQ and deviates from a social model of disability.

O8-6 Participation in physical education, extra-curricular activities, and community sports among Irish adolescents with and without functional difficulties

BackgroundPhysical activity for adolescents with disabilities (AWD) are reported to have even greater health benefits than for adolescents without disabilities (AWoD). The settings for organised physical activity opportunities can include physical education, extra-curricular activities and community sport. Few studies have reported whether there are differences in participation in these settings between AWD and AWoD. The purpose of this study was to report differences in participation in organised physical activity between AWD and AWoD in Ireland.MethodsData, were disaggregated by disabilities, from the Irish children sport participation and physical activity 2018 study; a national representative self-report survey. Adolescents selected sports and physical activities they took part in the last 12 months in physical education, extra-curricular activities, and community sports. The child functioning module was completed with data coded according to the Washington group on disability statistics criteria. Data were stratified by gender and school level, with average scores of the number of activities analysed by T-Tests with Hedge's g, and no participation by Chi-square test of independence.ResultsThe weighted sample included 6646 adolescents (53% female, 68% secondary level), of which 16% reported disabilities. Specific difficulties were sensory (4%), physical (1%), cognitive (7%), and behavioural (9%). More AWD reported they did not do any organised physical activities in all three settings (physical education, p = 0.029, extra-curriculum, p = >.001, community sport p = >.001) than AWoD. Adolescents with behavioural disabilities reported fewer types of physical education activities (males primary, p = .014, g =.31; secondary, p = .008, g = .24) and community sports (male primary, p = >.001, g = .49; female secondary, p = .027, g = .14) than adolescents without behavioural disabilities.ConclusionsAdolescents with behavioural difficulties were the largest disability group and reported fewer number of organised physical activities than AWoD; reinforcing actions are needed to increase perceived choice of activities. An alarming number of AWD reported no organised physical activities in all three settings. More thorough studies are required to investigate these reasons, and to provide support across settings, whereby differences in participation between adolescents with and without disabilities are not so profound.

Optimizing Psychological Wellbeing, by Lowering Parental Stress in Parents of Intellectually Disabled Children.

Intellectual disability is one of the most prevalent developmental disabilities of the children globally. As per the reports of the Disability Statistics in India 2017, which was updated from the census data of 2011, there are 1.5 million people with intellectual disability (Kumar, 2017). Though this number is alarming, there are less statistical data’s available to describe about the family members, who is suffering because of intellectually disabled children. Family is the main source of support for those disabled children in any society. Parents experience enormous physical and mental stress while dealing with the intellectually disabled children (Islam, Shanaz, &amp; Farjana, 2013). It could be an unfavourable and challenging occurrence that could follow the possibility of frustration, feeling of sadness, and hopelessness. Various evidences indicate that the parents of the intellectually disabled children face emotional, social and economic problems that are often limiting, destructive and conclusive in nature, (Boromand, Narimani, &amp; Mosazadeh, 2014), since intellectual disability is a permanent condition unlike many other diseases (ThiyamKiran Singh, Indla, &amp; Indla, 2008). Perceiving stress in these parents is hence unavoidable in families with Intellectually Disabled children. When the parental stress is more, less psychological wellbeing will be existing for the parents. Hence, in this study, the researcher correlates perceived stress related to certain demographic variables like age, occupation &amp; income with psychological wellbeing by a valid scale. The study was done with sixty parents, in Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu.

The association between household wealth and the prevalence of child disability and specific functional limitations: Analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional surveys in 40 low- and middle-income countries

BackgroundIt is commonly stated that people with disabilities are at significantly greater risk of living in poverty than their non-disabled peers. However, most evidence supporting this assertion is drawn from studies in high-income countries and studies of adults. There is relatively little robust evidence on the association between poverty/wealth and the prevalence of child disability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective/hypothesisTo estimate the strength of association between an indicator of wealth (household assets) and the prevalence of disability among children in a range of LMICs. MethodsSecondary analysis of data collected in Round 6 of UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Nationally representative data were available for 40 countries with a total sample size of 473,578 children aged 2–17. Disability was ascertained by responses to the Washington Group for Disability Statistics module on functional limitations. ResultsThere were significant dose-dependent relationships between household wealth quintile and the prevalence of disability and 13 of the 15 specific functional difficulties associated with disability. Children living in the poorest 20% of households were 35% more likely to have a disability than children living in the most affluent 20% of households. The strength of the association between household wealth and the prevalence of child disability was markedly lower in low-income countries than in middle-income countries. r ConclusionsOur results provide robust evidence that in LMICs the prevalence of child disability is disproportionately concentrated in poorer households. Further research is required to better understand why this association appears to be weaker in low-income countries. c

Monitoring disability inclusion: Setting a baseline for South Africa.

BackgroundThe progressive realisation of disability inclusion requires political will and commitment, and comprehensive monitoring is necessary to give a clear understanding of what needs to be addressed and to highlight the gaps and barriers to the achievement of social inclusion of people with disabilities.ObjectivesThis article uses an existing dataset to present a baseline assessment of inclusion for men and women with no, mild or moderate disability severity and with no or moderate affect difficulties in South Africa.MethodsAn existing dataset, capturing individual-level data for 8499 individuals, collected in 2019 across South Africa was analysed. Variables were utilised to represent aspects of nine domains of disability inclusion, and outcomes were compared using chi-squared tests (with Bonferroni adjustments) for groups categorised by disability severity and gender, and for affect severity and gender.ResultsOverall, inclusion levels declined with increasing disability severity, and there were fewer differences in inclusion levels between those with and without affect difficulties than for those with functioning difficulties (as measured using the Washington Group on Disability Statistics’ Short Set of six questions on functioning).ConclusionsThe article concludes by discussing several approaches to using the data to design policy responses, each of which results in a different range of domains that may initially be prioritised and targeted.

Age related increase in impairment across the life course: the use of Zomba curves to estimate assistive technology needs in Malawi

Purpose Global population growth and increasing longevity means that the need for Assistive Technology (AT) will continue to increase. The level of unmet need for AT is greatest in low-income settings. The aim of this study is to identify age-related increase in impairment and to estimate the AT needs. Materials and Methods We analysed secondary data from the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census (MPHC) based on the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) short-set of questions. Results Out of the 1,556,670 persons with one or more functional limitations or disabilities identified in the census, self-reported difficulties in all domains were markedly higher from age 40 and above. The proportion reporting one functional limitation is higher compared to two or more limitations, but at age 78–80 the proportion reporting two or more functional limitations increased above those reporting one functional limitation. Although 60.9% (60.7–61.0) and 63.5% (63.3–63.6) of those who reported difficulty in seeing and hearing were using glasses and hearing aids respectively, the estimated total need for glasses and hearing aids in this group was 98.9% (98.0–99.0) and 98.4% (98.3–98.5) respectively. The unmet need for glasses and hearing aids were therefore 38.1% and 34.9% respectively. Conclusion The differential slope of impairment curves against age is a guide to the increasing demand for AT across the life course and across different domains of functioning. Country specific analysis of impairment across age and domains is essential to understand and plan for the growing need for AT globally. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION It is important to estimate and plan for impairment across life course to address the age-related increase in impairment and the increasing need for AT with age. The Zomba curves show the cumulative nature of impairment with age and the need for age and need specific provision of AT across the life course through proactive policy level actions. The significant high unmet need for glasses and hearing aids attests to similar need for other assistive products and the need for setting specific interventions to address needs of affected persons. The differential slope of impairment curves against age is a guide to the differing and increasing demand for assistive technology across the life course and across different domains of functioning

The use of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questionnaires to identify hearing disability: a systematic review.

To investigate the use of instruments from the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) to obtain data on hearing disability (HD). We conducted searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Lilacs databases and the grey literature. The software "The State of the Art through Systematic Review" and "Mendeley" were used to assist in the bibliographic reference organization, selection, and storage. we followed the guidelines proposed by the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis" and we selected studies that met the following inclusion criteria: written in English or Portuguese, within the period of 2001 to 2017 and have used the WG hearing disability question. The variables analyzed into the studies were: WG module, country and year of data collection, sample size and composition, objective of the study, publication journal, HD estimate of prevalence and accuracy measures. Sixty-five studies are included in the review, conducted with data from 30 countries. The WG Short Set of question was the most often used. Hearing disability prevalence ranged from 0.2 to 2.3% and only three studies estimated the accuracy of the instrument to identify HD. The hearing disability question of WG has been used worldwide and mainly in developing countries. The short variation in the estimated prevalence measurements within studies seems favorable to the WG's goal of generate estimates that allow international comparison. However, the shortage of validity studies indicates the need for further investigations with this purpose.

Abstract 12561: Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors Among Women of Reproductive Age by Disability Status

Introduction: In the United States (U.S.), 18% of women age 18-44 years report at least one physical, sensory, or cognitive disability. Compared to the general population, women with disabilities are more likely to have multiple comorbidities and experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. Diet and physical activity are important and modifiable lifestyle behaviors for women’s preconception and long-term health, as well as the health of their offspring. This study examined diet quality, physical activity, and related lifestyle factors among women of reproductive age by disability status and disability type. Hypothesis: Diet quality, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors will differ across disability status. Methods: Data were from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018 (n=3,409). Disability status was determined by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questions regarding difficulty hearing, seeing, concentrating, walking, dressing, or running errands alone. Diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015, with higher scores indicating better diet quality. Self-reported physical activity, food security, and fast food and ready-to-eat food consumption were also assessed. Chi-square tests and generalized linear regression evaluated differences across disability status and disability type. Results: Compared to women with no disabilities, women with any self-reported disabilities had lower HEI-2015 scores (46.8 and 50.5, respectively; p&lt;0.05), were more likely to report low/very low food security (48% and 18%, respectively; p&lt;0.05), and were less likely to report meeting physical activity recommendations of ≥150 minutes/week of moderate/vigorous activities (27% and 43%, respectively; p&lt;0.05). Differences were also observed by disability type, such that women with self-reported vision difficulty consume more fast food meals in one week compared to women with no disabilities. Conclusions: Women of reproductive age with disabilities report lower diet quality, food security, and physical activity. Future research should focus on identifying and improving modifiable lifestyle behaviors among this population to reduce disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.

Health and Access to Health Services for People with Disability in Australia: Data and Data Gaps.

The right of people with disability to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Among its obligations as a signatory to the CRPD, Australia is required to collect appropriate information, including statistical and research data, to inform development and implementation of policies to give effect to the Convention. In this commentary, we first describe how the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) conceptual model of disability can be operationalised in statistical data collections, with a focus on how this is achieved in key Australian data sources such that people with disability can be identified as a population group. We then review existing statistical data on health and health service use for people with disability in Australia, highlighting data gaps and limitations. Finally, we outline priorities and considerations for improving data on health and access to health services for people with disability. As well as conceptual, practical, and ethical considerations, a key principle that must guide future disability data development is that people with disability and their representative organisations must be involved and participate fully in the development of disability data and statistics, and in their use.

Evaluation of the effect of Lashunadi Taila Karnpooran and Sarivaadi Vati with and without Ashwagandhadhya Ghrita in Badhirya

Background and Objectives: Over 5% of the world’s population, or 466 million people – has disabling hearing loss. It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people – or one in every ten people will have disabling hearing loss. This statistical data emphasizes the need for strengthening disability statistics in the world. In India itself, out of the 121 cr population, about 2.68 crore persons are disabled which is 2.2% of the total population. In Ayurveda, Hearing loss or impairement can be well correlated with Badhirya owing to the marked similarities of the clinical presentations of these two disease entities. In Modern science, the treatment includes medicinal, surgical & hearing aids. In Ayurveda, along with systemic treatment more emphasis is laid upon local treatment and Karnpooran is one of the best local treatment modality mentioned for Karnarogas. Ashwagandhadhya Ghrita taken for the study has Rasayan property, whereas Sarivaadi Vati is mentioned in all types of Karna Rogas. So all these above facts leave a scope to find out the better solution for the disease Badhirya.Materials and Methods: The present study includes a sample size of 60 patients of Badhirya. Group A patients received Lashunadi Taila Karnpooran 100 Matra, once in a day every evening for 10 days (5-7 pm) and Sarivaadi Vati twice a day after food with jal for 2 months and 10 days. Group B patients received Lashunadi Taila Karnpooran (10 days) and Sarivaadi Vati with Ashwagandhadhya Ghrita 10ml Bhaktoparya at night with Koshna Jal for 2 months and 10 days. Results: Group A provided moderate improvement in 13.33% of the patient, mild improvement in 50% and unchanged was 36.67% patient after completion of the treatment. Group B provided moderate improvement in 26.67% patients, mild improvement in 50% patients and 23.33% patients were unchanged after completion of the treatment.