What Parents should know before deciding on a cochlear implant surgery for their child
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.
Also Check: Hearing Aids
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.
Also Check: speech therapy
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.
Also See: How Hearing Works
What are the aftereffects of cochlear implant surgery?
Some parts of your child’s ear or facial nerve may get damaged during the surgery. This can cause numbness and loss of movement in some parts of the face. This surgery increases the risk of meningitis. Your child will have a higher risk of developing meningitis throughout life. Your child’s cochlear implants may be in the wrong position or stop working and might need another surgery to fix it.
Cost of cochlear implant surgery in Delhi:
The cost of a cochlear implant in Delhi ranges between INR Approx: 500,000-1,000,000.
The cost of cochlear implant surgery is included in the total cost of cochlear implantation.
It is made up of two parts:
External component: It consists of a microphone, speech processor, and transmitter.
Internal component: It consists of a receiver and one or more electrode arrays.
Comments
Post a Comment