WHO World Hearing Day Poster Features Kerala Girl: Highlights Newborn Cochlear Implantation

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At the age of six, Rizwana first heard the rain and the joyous twitter of birds in the morning for the first time. Before that, she did not realise how the anklets on her feet could produce such a melodious jingle... or how much joy could be felt when hearing her mother's voice for the first time.

Despite being born with hearing loss, Rizwana's cochlear implant opened up an incredible world for her. It saved her from what would have been a lifetime of disability, helped her attend normal school, and allowed her to pursue her dreams with so much more self-confidence.

Rizwana is a final year Medical College Hospital student at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam who demonstrates that early newborn screening and consistent interventions can prevent many hearing-impaired children from being permanently disabled.

"My parents put in so much hard work to consistently train me with speech therapy even when they were not sure it will yield positive results. It is because they never gave up on me that despite the late cochlear implantation, I could speak and hear normally," Rizwana says.

As part of World Hearing Day, WHO India has chosen to highlight Rizwana's story on its poster, emphasising the importance of early newborn screening and consistent interventions for hearing-impaired children.

India's Hearing Impairment Situation

It is estimated that approximately 63 million people in India are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). Additionally, 1.57 million children are hearing impaired in the school-age age range 0-19 years of age [1].

Furthermore, only 5% of hearing-impaired children receive basic education in the country, while 1% of the entire deaf population receives a quality education.

In India, the World Health Organization estimates that 63 million people suffer from hearing impairment, and newborn hearing screening and early intervention can help save at least 60% of children with congenital hearing disorders [2].

As of 2018, all newborns born in government hospitals in Kerala are screened for hearing loss at birth. According to WHO, the government-sponsored Sruthitharangam cochlear implantation program, which was started in 2012, has so far prevented 1,200 children from developing hearing loss [3].

Cochlear Implantation For Hearing Loss: How Does It Benefit?

Cochlear implants improve hearing in people with severe hearing loss due to inner-ear damage or who are unable to hear well with hearing aids.

A cochlear implant consists of a sound processor that fits behind the ear. The processor captures signals and sends them to a receiver implanted beneath the skin behind the ear. The receiver sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the snail-shaped inner ear [4].

It is important to note that the results of cochlear implant surgery vary from person to person. Factors that can affect the outcome of cochlear implant surgery include the age at which hearing was lost and the period of time between hearing loss and when the cochlear implant surgery was performed.

If a child is born with significant hearing loss, the best outcome usually results from the placement of a cochlear implant as soon as possible [5].

In most cases, most people with cochlear implants make considerable progress in their ability to understand speech within three to six months of using the device.

Can Early Newborn Screening And Timely Interventions Prevent Hearing Impairment?

The importance of early diagnosis in helping deaf and hard-of-hearing babies reach their full potential is undeniable, and it allows families to decide what intervention services are most appropriate for their children.

It is important to provide the brain with the stimulation it needs at an early age in order to enable them to achieve its best speech, language, and social skills. In addition, newborns should undergo a hearing screening in order to prevent unnecessary delays in treatment [6].

Cochlear Implant vs Hearing Aid

As opposed to hearing aids, which amplify sound, a cochlear implant delivers sound signals directly to the hearing (auditory) nerve by bypassing damaged portions of the ear.

Cochlear implants require surgery and are intended for those who have more severe hearing loss in one or both ears and poor speech understanding. Hearing aids do not require surgery and are recommended for those with less severe hearing loss and fair speech understanding [7].

On A Final Note...

The Union Ministry of Social Justice's Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase and Installation of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged families for the purchase and installation of cochlear implants.

As for Rizwana, the ENT surgeon who introduced her to the world of sounds is her hero. She hopes to become an ENT surgeon herself in the future.

"I would be very happy if my story encourages more parents with hearing-impaired children not to give up, ever," she says.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.