Fortis Hospital, Mohali launched Cochlear Implant Clinic

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear.

A Cochlear Implant Clinic was recently launched at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Cochlear Implant Clinic was recently launched at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. This is different from hearing aids, which makes sounds louder. Cochlear implants bypass cochlea to provide sound signals to the brain. Dr Ashok Gupta, Director, Department of ENT, Fortis Hospital, Mohali emphasized the need of this Cochlear Implant Surgery in children during the early days.

He said,“Most of the children remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed very late.” He also advised for regular medical checkups with the specialist so that it can be diagnosed at an early stage and surgery can be performed for a better quality of hearing. This cochlear implantation is a 2-hour surgery which requires 2-3 days of hospitilisation. The best results are obtained when the implant is done at an early age.

Another factor that ensures success is post-op rehabilitation, ie; speech therapy to ensure that the child starts hearing & speaking. The government of India has started an early intervention in the form of otoacoustic emission as a screening test to be done for every hospital born child, though it is strictly not being followed. It is done only for high-risk cases i.e. children who had significant jaundice/cried late after birth etc.

These children require evaluation in the form of field audiometry, ABER & ASSR. Then further evaluation is to see whether cochlear (Hearing Organ) is formed or not by getting CT Scan & MRI of temporal bone.

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