10 kids fitted with cochlear implants
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11 2016 :
JNIMS has successfully conducted cochlear implant surgery upon 8 children today who were born deaf .
Two deaf children underwent the surgery last year taking the total number of children to 10 .
Speaking to media persons at JNIMS today, ENT, Head of Department Dr M Madhumangol said that children who are born deaf and belonging to BPL families are entitled to free cochlear implant surgery under the Government of India's Rashtriya Bal Swashtya Karyakram (RBSK).
While children who five years old and below are entitled to free cochlear implant surgery, children between five years and 12 would be given 50 per cent discount on the surgery charge, Dr Madhumangol said.
For the first time in the entire North East region, two children who were born deaf underwent cochlear implant surgery successfully under RBSK at JNIMS on October 24, 2015 .
All the medicines and other materials needed by the eight children who underwent cochlear implant surgery today were provided by the State Health Mission Director free of cost.
The kids who underwent cochlear surgery last year now have no hearing problem and they now speak.
Eight children were given cochlear implant surgery today by Chennai based cochlear implant surgeon Prof Mohan Kameshwaran and Dr Sunil Gayal.
JNIMS is now prepared to conduct more cochlear implant surgery upon children who are deaf by birth, said Dr Madhumangol adding that three other children would undergo the same surgery next month.
Parents who have deaf children and whose annual income is within Rs 180,000 may visit JNIMS and check whether the hearing problems of their children can be corrected with cochlear implant or not, he appealed.
The first cochlear implant surgery conducted in India was 24 years ago and the device is working perfectly.
Even though no one is sure when the device may break down as it is an electronic device the break down rate as of now is only one per cent, Dr Madhumangol added.