Science and Medicine

New Delhi: Toddlers undergo successful cochlear implant

Shekhar and Poonam Singh cannot be more relieved. Thanks to doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Science, their sons can hear now. The 18-month-old twins underwent cochlear implant surgery simultaneously, a feat that happened for the first time in the country.

Problems began for Poonam in the 26th week of pregnancy. “Complications led to premature delivery and both the boys were kept in the neonatal ICU for over three months, routine check-ups indicated that they had hearing problems. More investigations at AIIMS revealed that both were totally deaf, beyond the scope of being helped by hearing aids.

After assessing their IQ, ascertaining their capability to use the implement after the operation, doctors advised Shekhar to consider the cochlear implant option. Professor R.C. Deka, head of department of ENT at AIIMS operated the twins on July 27.

“Cochlear implements coupled with intensive post implantation therapy, can help young children acquire speech, language developmental, and social skills. Soon after the surgery, we checked the implants by connecting them to computers and neutral responses to sounds confirmed the success of the surgery,” said Dr Deka.

Both children will go through a rehabilitation process at AIIMS to help develop speech and language skills in the future.

The cochlear implant is an electronic device that can help provide a sense of sound to completely deaf people of those with serious hearing problems. It consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

“They have the advantage of being operated at an earliest possible age without any undue risks,” said Dr Deka.

Source: AIIMS gets twins talking after cochlear implant. The Hindustan Times, Daily, New Delhi, 27 September 2006.