Cochlear implant reflects fast progress in medicine

From: News Today - India - Nov 3, 2004

NT Bureau
Chennai Nov 3 :

Cochlear implant providing sensorineural hearing is way ahead in the advancements made in both transplant of organs or implant of prosthetic devices, said A Rajesekaran, president, National Board of Examination, New Delhi.

In his address at second National Conference of Cochlear Implant Group of India (CIGI) held in Chennai recently, Rajesekaran said Cochlear implant bypasses the cochlea and sends signals directly through the nerve to the brain and this discovery was made possible in late 1980s by Professor Greame Clark of Melbourne University, who is considered by many as the father of Cochlear implant.

He said success of this implant was reflected in more 6,000 patients around the world, he noted.

For the affected individuals, this cochlear implant would help introduce them to a 'Hearing World' or 'World of Difference', he added.

The success of implantation depends on the team work of a well-trained, coordinated team of hearing therapists, speech therapists, clinical psychologists and other paramedical professional, Rajesekaran said.

The constant exposure to loud noises produced by the individuals, organisation or religious places and industries would affect them invariably and may even lead to deafness. The responsibility of controlling the noise pollution was not given either to the law enforcing authority or Pollution Control Board, he said.

Lack of financial assistance, dearth of good centres, shortage of trained personnel had all posed formidable obstacles to the development of Cochlear Implant centres in the country, said Dr Mohan Kameswaran, National President, Cochlear Implant Group of India. Two problems were unique to India, one was distance where the patients had to relocate himself to the place near to rehabilitation centres from his residence and other was the language problem in rehabilitation by Audio Verbal Therapist, the doctor said.

There was an acute shortage of Audio Verbal Therapists in the country, he said. With an estimated one million potential patients every year, 100 implants were carried out in various centres of the country, he noted.

Admiral Dr V K Singh, VSM, Director General of Health Services, Navy, released a consensus document of CIGI.

Dr R S Anand Kumar, organising secretary, Dr M P Manoj, National Secretary, CIGI, and S Manoharan, treasurer, organising committee, were also present.

© 2004 News Today - India