CHANDIGARH-April 13—The Department of ENT at Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh has performed the-state-of-the art, cochlear implant surgery on three-year profoundly deaf child on March 3 using the high techneque and safe 20 Channel Dig sonic Cochlear Implant System imported from France.
Incidentally, the date coincided with the International Ear and Hearing Care Day. After recovery, the implant was switched-on the day and it has responded very well. “The results are most encouraging. The child is getting speech therapy and help for cognitive development from the Audiologist-cum-Speech Therapists at GMCH,” said Senior Doctor of GMCH, Chandigarh.
The child was diagnosed as having hearing loss after birth. The assessment was carried out at Speech and Hearing Rehabilitation Unit of department of ENT of the hospital. Before the cochlear implant surgery, the child was taken up for speech and hearing rehabilitation after fitting the hearing aid for six months.
With this unique surgery, said Prof Bahadur, doors were opened for a number of such patients of this region, who were having severe to profound hearing loss.
The team headed by Dr. Arjun Dass, Professor and Head, Department of ENT has performed this cochlear implant surgery.
“The cochlear implant is a miracle of medical science, which helps even the persons with profound hearing loss,” added docter.
“The cochlear implant surgery requires a great care in installing a new device. It does not require any drilling on the skull and thus making it very safe for a child even with a thin skull bone. The implant is also MRI safe and allows the child to connect to too many listening situations,” stated docter.
Ms.Gurvinderjit Kaur, Audiologist-cum-Speech Therapist informed that the parents were happy as the child was able to hear many sounds which he was not able to listen before the implant.