Six-year-old from Pune can finally hear, thanks to implants

These days, Pune's Gaikwad family has a lot to smile for. Their six-year-old son Shreeharsh was recently able to hear properly for the first time in his life, after undergoing a surgical procedure on his left ear at the KEM hospital.

Shreeharsh's father Mahesh borrowed money from his friends to buy the costly cochlear implant machine, worth Rs 6 lakh, for his son. A cochlear implant machine for his right ear was earlier bought by the money received through donations. After the successful result, the family decided to get a machine for another ear as well. The small electronic implant, surgically placed, can help provide a sense of sound to an affected person. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

For a long time, the Gaikwads did not realise that Shreeharsh was suffering from a congenital disease and could not hear. When he turned two, they realised that he wasn't able to utter even the common words. It finally struck them that something was amiss when he would not respond to loud sounds. They then went from pillar to post to confirm their fear and seek treatment.

A brainstem evoked response audiometry test (BERA) established the diagnosis, after which Shreeharsh was put through a series of investigations and given a hearing aid trial, but without much benefit. After consulting several doctors in Pune, the Gaikwads came in touch with Dr Hetal Marfatia Patel, a professor at KEM hospital's ENT department. Dr Patel told the family that an implant was their only hope.

"There are many people who face financial problems, as implants are a costly device. The patient's relatives went to several charity organisations to raise funds. An NGO helped for the first implant. For the second one, however, Gaikwad himself had to borrow money from his friends. The major advantage of hearing from both ears is that it leads to balance, and that the child feels less tired at the end of the day. Bilateral hearing also helps in developing speech and language in a better way. It gives a sense of directionality and localisation of sound that is not all possible with only one implant."

Dr Patel added, "The implant is put in the cochlea, where hair cells are not functioning. The implant's electrode functions as the cochlea, converting electrical energy into sound energy. Apart from the two-hour surgery, the patient also needs speech therapy to get better results."

Meanwhile, Mahesh said, "I was very happy with the results of the first cochlear implant. So we decided to get another one. I am very thankful to the KEM hospital for their help."