C-Care IHK will this weekend hit its 48th cochlear implant as a team of local and international Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT) experts conducts three cochlear implant surgeries to correct hearing defects in three children born deaf.
Cochlear implants are devices designed for individuals with severe hearing loss who no longer benefit from conventional hearing aids.
These implants work by converting external sounds into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to an internal implant that stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing the brain to interpret sound.
Dr. Miriam Mutero Musinga, the General Manager of C-Care IHK announced on Friday that the three implants are part of their program to ensure they restore hearing for Ugandans.
“This year we are doing three more to take us to 48 cochlear implants. We have a lot of interest in hearing and ear care. Every child deserves the chance to hear and
Communicate. Doing the surgery is the first bit of it but there are other procedures that come after it that we will be doing,” Dr.Mutero said.
“By having international experts do these surgeries with our local experts, we are helping the country build capacity and we hope in the next few years we will be able to do this on our own.”
She said the cochlear implant surgeries will be done in partnership with Med-El ,a global medical technology company specializing in hearing implants and devices as well as MedPath Technologies Uganda.
According to Nathan Nanjaya, the Uganda country manager for Med-El, they will provide the implantable part and the outside audio processor to be switched on, a month after the healing of the surgery wounds for the child.
He explained that the implant is inserted under the skin, bypassing the non-functioning part of the ear and electrode inserted very into the cochlear.
“For the audio processor is worn on the behind part of the ear on the day of the switch on which is after a month of the surgery. On this day is when the child will hear for the first time. It is a moment of anxiety since we don’t know when the child will respond,”Nanjaya said.
How it works
Nanjaya said the audio processor picks up sound waves and then transmits them via magnetic attraction.
“This is what is going to happen. The signals go to the electrode which sends siganls to the auditory nerve which then sends them to the brain and the child will perceive the sound. This technology is amazing as it gives the children the joy of sound and they will begin developing, gaining language, speech and eventually begin socializing like normal children do,” Nanjaya said.
Dr.Sedrack Matsiko an ENT surgeon said the impact of cochlear implants is enormous
“You will not able to participate into social interaction, for example sports since it requires on to hear, you can’t be a good politician, practice journalism or do medicine. This defect takes away a large number of people who would have contributed to the wellbeing of the economy. These cochlear implants are therefore crucial to correct hearing defects,” Dr.Matsiko said.
According to Dr. Christopher Ndoleriire, an ENT surgeon called for more awareness about hearing loss and how it can be prevented and corrected.
