Gurgaon: An 8-year-old boy from Rewari, born with hearing impairment, was initially misdiagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. Despite years of using hearing aids, his auditory perception and speech development showed no improvement.
It was his family's determination that led them to Artemis Hospital, where advanced imaging and audiological assessments revealed an anomalous middle ear structure and mixed hearing loss, contradicting the initial diagnosis.
Following this, a trial of wearable bone conduction devices was conducted on the child and as it showed promising results, bilateral implantation was done.
"The patient was struggling with congenital hearing loss, affecting his ability to communicate effectively in school and social settings. Traditional hearing aids had not provided adequate hearing restoration. After a thorough evaluation, the medical team at Artemis Hospital decided that a bone conduction implant would be the most suitable solution for the patient's specific needs," said Dr Dilpreet Bajwa senior consultant, ENT.
Explaining the procedure, Bajawa said, "Bone conduction implants work by bypassing the outer and middle ear to directly stimulate the inner ear. The surgical procedure involves placing a small titanium implant under the skin behind the ear. A sound processor is then attached to the implant, converting sound signals into vibrations that are transmitted directly to the inner ear."
The surgery was performed by a team of surgeons at Artemis Hospital in Oct 7. The procedure was successful, and the patient experienced immediate improvement in his hearing.
Following the surgery, the patient underwent a period of rehabilitation to adjust to the new technology and maximise the benefits of the implants. Speech therapy and audiology services played a crucial role in helping the patient develop listening skills and improve communication abilities.