KARACHI:
Cochlear implantation (CI) is an excellent means of auditory rehabilitation for children with hearing impairment and has gained significant popularity around the world. CI bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by way of the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognises the signals as sound.
CI was found to be the first cranial nerve stimulator. The device has opened a new horizon for otolaryngologists. Patients under the age of 5 have been found to have better hearing results after CI. Around 3% of children in Pakistan are born with hearing impairment either completely or partially. The frequency of hearing loss increases with inter-family marriages because it leads to increased chances of a child inheriting two copies of a defective gene from a common ancestor perpetuating otherwise recessive genetic disorders.
In Pakistan, the CI programme began in 2000 but few patients can afford it. Currently, many hospitals offer CI surgeries. Different schemes also provide free cochlear implant surgery services with free habilitation services i.e., audiological services and speech therapies. However, these are usually available in a few urban areas and are not accessible to everyone. Therefore, there is a need to expand CI services and centres across the country, especially in rural areas. Perhaps, the government should work with NGOs and private hospitals to ensure CI is widely available and accessible to all.
Dr Syed Qasim
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2023.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
