Nair Hospital conducts its first cochlear implant

MUMBAI: For the first time in 17 years, Sonu Mishra will be able to hear her parents calling her. It took many months of consultation and Rs 9.48 lakh for the teenager from Bhopal to have a cochlear implant or bionic ear at civic-run Nair Hospital.
The younger of two sisters, Sonu was born with severe hearing impairment. While her family consulted with a team of doctors at privately-run Hinduja Hospital in Mahim when she was three years old, the concept of bionic ear had not come in at that time.
Earlier this year, the family contacted Dr Marfatia Patel, who is attached to Nair Hospital, to discuss how helpful a cochlear implant would be for Sonu.After reassuring them, Dr Patel, along with with her mentor Dr Milind Kirtane, performed the surgery on Saturday. Sonu, who will now need regular therapy, will soon be able to hear everything around her. However, she will not be able to completely overcome the impairment, as the surgery is most effective if it is conducted before the age of two.
Although this was the first cochlear implant surgery to be performed at Nair Hospital, eight such operations have been carried out in public hospitals such as KEM and JJ.
The surgery involves planting a bionic ear in a patient suffering from profound loss in hearing. The implant, an electronic device, helps patients pick up auditory signals by stimulating the hearing nerve. It is generally recommended after regular aids fail to work.
Following the surgery, patients undergo intensive therapy sessions for a minimum of two years to help them recognise the sounds they begin to hear. However, according to Dr Kirtane, none of the civic-run hospitals has any therapy centres at present.
The life-changing operation comes with a high price tag. With the implant itself costing between Rs 5.45 lakh and Rs 9.48 lakh, the entire procedure comes to around Rs 10 lakh-Rs 12 lakh at private hospitals. However, civic-run hospitals make it more affordable by cutting down on peripheral expenses. The cost of the implant cannot be brought down. While Sonu's surgery is partially sponsored by the MP government, in other cases, doctors help families to raise funds. Manufacturing the implants in India would cut costs.