Hearing is essential for humans. The person hears all sounds and differentiates between them with the help of hearing organ, the ear. The ear has three parts- external, middle, and internal. The external part is termed as ear pinna that is cartilaginous; the middle ear consists of the cochlea that is essential for hearing. The internal ear has an eardrum that resonates when air enters the ear.
Conditions In The Ear That Calls For Cochlear Implant:
The cochlear implantation is done in people suffering from the following conditions:
- The complete hearing loss in adults and children.
- Hearing disability since birth
- Sixty percent inability in sentence recognition.
Cochlear implant surgery includes the adding of internal and external hearing devices that involve the electronic system of transfer of signals. Cochlear implant price in India depends on the hospital you choose for surgery, the type of hearing device, series of tests conducted on patient, fees of the surgeon, and also, the post-operative consultancy.
The surgery is only conducted after a series of different tests:
- CT scan and MRI of the ear
- Physiological tests
- Comprehensive tests
- Blood tests
These tests are conducted to judge the mental and physical health of the person. The patient is given anaesthesia before the surgery. After that, the doctors make an incision behind the ear to reach the bone of the ear.
The internal receiver is placed at the back of the ear. Then an incision is made in the middle ear to place the electrode above the bone. The incisions are carefully sewn by the surgeon. Then doctors apply a bandage on the sutures, and the patient is kept under observation. External device is implanted only after the incision is completely healed. Patient shall remain in contact with the doctor for post-surgical follow-up care.
Post-Surgical Complications:
In case the proper care is not taken, there can be post-surgical complications. Some of the common complications include:
- Fluid secretion at the incision point
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the ear
- Tinnitus
- Inability to walk
- Headache.
However, it can be controlled if you approach the doctor for follow-up care at the right time.
In a Nutshell:
Best services are provided by healthcare companies in India. Cochlear implant costs in the country are highly reasonable if you compare it with other parts of the world. Cochlear implant surgery is successful in India, and it costs one-third of the total expenditure in any other country.
This ENT treatment begins with the test and diagnosis of complete external, middle and inner portions of the ear. It is essential to analyse the infections in the ear and evaluate the hearing aids. Some of the standard tests to determine the need for cochlear implant surgery are:
- Audiogram
- CT and MRI, imaging scans
- Psychological analysis, and
- Comprehensive health examination.
A cochlear implant is only required if the person is suffering from a major hearing problem. If there is a minute problem in hearing, it can be easily solved through non-surgical alternatives.
Hearing loss is mostly a consequence of increase in age but can be congenital too. In some others it can be due to some accident.
So, if you are experiencing any kind of hearing problem, consult your doctor as soon as possible.