HUBBALLI: The Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi, will get cochlear implant facilities soon to provide treatment for hearing-impaired children.
The cochlear implant is a prosthetic device, a part of which is surgically implanted inside the cochlea. While a hearing aid provides amplified sound to the ear, the cochlear implant directly provides electrical stimulation to the nerve endings in the cochlea. After the process, the child will be given speech training for six months to start hearing the sounds. The state government has approved this programme. The implant costs around Rs 10 lakh and an additional Rs 2 lakh will be the cost for speech training purposes. However, the treatment is much costlier at Rs 7 to 8 lakh at private hospitals where as KIMS will give free treatment under the ABARK Scheme.
Patients across the North Karnataka region are dependent on KIMS, Hubballi. As the number of patients are increasing in government hospitals, facilities for cochlear implants will come up at KC General Hospital, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute (Bowring Hospital) and KIMS, Hubballi.
The cochlear implant scheme for newborn deaf children is planned in the 2022-23 budget. Soon, KIMS will equip itself with the facilities. Among 1,000 newborn babies, of which three children, are having hearing problem, said Dr. Raveendra P Gadag, ENT surgeon HoD at KIMS.
Under the scheme, a child will be provided a trial with hearing aids for 3 months. If there is no improvement, the child is eligible for cochlear implant surgery. About 18 children are under various phases of follow-up, and three children have been fitted with hearing aid. They are under observation. Consanguineous marriage is a major cause for congenital hearing impairment.
The equipment like operating microscopy, modular operation theatre and other equipment are being fitted. With some facilities and support of the All India Institute of Speech Hearing Center, Mysuru, Rotary Club and JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, Dharwad, have been provided implants.
Dr. Ramalingappa Antartani, KIMS director, said the state government has approved cochlear implant for KIMS.
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