Shivamogga medical institute conducts 25 cochlear implant surgeries

The ENT Department at Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences has completed 25 surgeries successfully under Karnataka’s Shravana Sanjeevani Cochlear Implant Scheme. The 25th surgery took place on Thursday, and to commemorate the achievement, the department celebrated with a cake-cutting ceremony alongside children who had previously undergone the surgery and regained their hearing.

A six-year-old girl, who had undergone the surgery earlier, presented formal prayers during the programme. The girl, after the surgery, underwent auditory-verbal therapy, necessary to improve listening, process language and speak.

Speaking on the occasion, her mother, Sowmya Bhat, said her child could not speak, as she had a problem with hearing since birth. “She was born in a government hospital in Sagar. While there is equipment to screen newborns for hearing loss, this was not in working condition. We learned about the problem years later,” she said. Because of the scheme that offers free surgery for all families, irrespective of the income category, her daughter’s hearing improved, and she was able to learn how to speak, she added. Similarly, another four-year-old child, who had undergone similar surgery about seven months ago, also participated in the programme.

S. Sridhar, head of the ENT Department and Nodal Officer for the scheme, speaking to the media, said that his department conducted 25 surgeries since March 2023. Under the scheme, children from Shivamogga and neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru, and Chitradurga districts received cochlear implants. “Children below the age of 2 years, with severe to profound hearing loss, are implanted with cochlear implants. Children between two and three years can also avail of the scheme’s benefit, after a designated committee clears the proposal. The Department of Health and Family Welfare bears ₹6 lakh for the implant, besides ₹1.75 lakh for the rehabilitation after the surgery. A similar surgery would cost up to ₹15 lakh in private hospitals,” he said.

Early screening

Shankar Medikeri, ENT specialist who has performed over 1,000 cochlear implants, is the mentor-surgeon for the scheme in Shivamogga. Dr. Medikeri said that people who have cochlear implants lead a normal life. Many of them go on to study in reputed institutions, including IITs, and some of them launch start-ups as well.

The early screening of hearing loss could help in treating children with hearing impairment. “In many hospitals, particularly in private hospitals, screening of newborns for hearing impairment is conducted. The State government should ensure all babies undergo screening within days of birth. It requires otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing at all hospitals,” he added.

District surgeon Geetha Sushil Kumar, anaesthetist Champa B.V., head of nursing staff Sheshamma and others were present.