Calcutta: Brett Lee, who got the better of many a batsman in his playing days, is bowling on a new pitch.

The Aussie pacer has been spearheading a global campaign to raise awareness about hearing loss ever since an accident that temporarily impaired his son's hearing.

In a chat with Metro over phone from Sydney, Lee spoke about his involvement with the cause and his role as Global Hearing Ambassador with Cochlear, an implantable hearing solutions company, three years ago.

Lee's son Preston Charles was five when he fell from the roof of their home in Sydney in 2011, causing him to lose his hearing in the right ear. "He landed on his head. He was lucky to be alive," recounted Lee.

Preston got his hearing back after a year but the accident was a "wake-up call" for Lee.

"We take sound for granted. For instance, I can't imagine cricket without sound - the roar of the crowd, the sound of bat hitting the ball, players appealing, players celebrating a wicket, and many more," said the former player.

Having been part of a rock-n-roll band, Lee knows the importance of keeping his ears protected. "But the traumatic time that followed my son's accident led me to think about the millions who suffer from hearing loss. No one deserves to live in silence," Lee told Metro.

According to a WHO report, an estimated 32 million children worldwide suffer from hearing loss. The number is 360 million if adults are included. Out of every 1,000 newborns in India, around five suffer from varying degrees of hearing loss.

"Many people are not aware of the importance of early intervention, especially in the case of children. I tell them the first 12-18 months are most important," Lee said, stressing the need for mandatory hearing screening for newborns.