What is cochlear implant surgery?
Cochlear implant surgery is the most commonly used procedure for mechanical cochlear implantation in the human ear to help patients with partial or total hearing loss. The treatment is usually done under anesthesia and is called mastectomy. The cochlea which is a part of the human ear looks like a hollow tube and is often rolled up like a snail shell. It functions as an essential component of the human ear, coordinating the nerve cells in the ear to support hearing. If a person’s cochlea is destroyed, it makes them unable to hear much or in fact anything, they are given a device to help the cochlea work. This entire procedure is known as cochlear implant surgery.
How to prepare for a child’s cochlear implant surgery?
A child’s healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare your child for surgery. The doctor may ask you not to give your child anything to eat or drink after midnight on the day of surgery. He will also tell you what medications should be given to your child on the day of surgery. Depending on your child’s age, it would be helpful to show them what a cochlear implant looks like and explain how it is placed during surgery and its usage.
What happens during cochlear implant surgery?
Your child will be given general anesthesia to help him/her sleep during surgery. He/she may also receive an antibiotic to prevent bacterial infections. The surgeon will make an incision behind the ear along the hairline. The surgeon will open a bone called the mastoid to access your child’s inner ear. It will pass through the opening of the mastoid to reach the cochlea. The surgeon will make a hole in the cochlea and implant the electrodes.
What should I and my child expect after the surgery?
Your child may feel dizzy for a few days after the surgery. It may take some time for the child to start hearing. The incision will take up to 3–6 weeks. Once the incision has healed and the swelling is gone, your child will receive the outer part of the cochlear implant. Your child will undergo therapy learning how to hear and understand sounds with a cochlear implant. You and your child will also learn how to take care of the cochlear implant.
Full Details:- https://speechhearingaid.com/2023/01/17/what-parents-should-know-before-deciding-on-a-cochlear-implant-for-their-child/
At a social level, it restricts personal relationships, acts as a hindrance in proper communication, slows educational growth, and limits employment and career opportunities.
As per the data released by the world health organization (WHO) and Global Burden of Disease studies (GBD), 278 million people have a hearing loss of greater than 45 dB, and 1.57 billion people have a hearing loss of more than 20dB.
80% of these cases are from the Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) or developing countries like India (1).
The situation is getting better now, as efforts at the govt level are increasing and at the community, level awareness is rising.Hearing loss in children and adults:Statistics provided by WHO indicate hearing loss has affected 34 million children and 432 million adults, as of 2020.
The hearing loss can be mild or profound Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which is a permanent type.
Permanent hearing loss can only be treated by cochlear implants.Children need more attention:Hearing loss needs more attention in children because it can slow down the ability to learn speech, understanding language, and his/her social skills.
