By Dr.Harika on February 16, 2017

ENT & Audiology News

1. Government Initiatives: The Indian government has recognized the severity of sensorineural hearing loss across the country, which is increasingly common due to various environmental and lifestyle factors. In response, there have been significant efforts in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, and management of deafness. This includes government-funded health camps for hearing aids distribution and identifying profoundly deaf children for early cochlear implantation.
2. Challenges and Acceptance: Introducing cochlear implantation in India faced initial skepticism from medical professionals and the public. Factors like the high cost of the technology, India’s multilingual society, and cultural attitudes posed significant barriers. However, over time, with economic growth and increasing literacy rates, cochlear implantation has gained wider acceptance and is now seen as a standard of care.
3. Progress and Expansion: India has made considerable progress in this field, with around 200 state-of-the-art cochlear implant centers established across major cities. The Cochlear Implant Group of India, modeled after the British Cochlear Implant Group, has been instrumental in creating awareness and providing guidelines for cochlear implantation.
4. Government Schemes and Coverage: Many state governments have launched schemes to fully fund cochlear implants, particularly for children below six years of age. Programs like the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Cochlear Implant Scheme have been pioneers in this regard, offering free implants to needy children and ensuring quality habilitation services.
5. Challenges Ahead: Despite these efforts, the challenge remains vast, with a potential one million children still in need of implantation. The cost of implants continues to be a significant hurdle.

Conclusion

This comprehensive approach, combining government support, medical expertise, and societal responsibility, aims to bring substantial changes in the lives of deaf-born children, integrating them into a world of sound and ensuring their participation in mainstream education and society.