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6 years Post cochlear implantation mainstream education and speech language

External Speech Processor Upgrade for Cochlear Implants: What are the criteria for upgrade?

The Cochlear Implant system consists of an internal part which is surgically inserted  and an external Processor.

Internal component 

intraoperative snapshot of internal part

The external component is switched on 2-4 weeks after surgery

external procesor

The magnet (beige) of external processor is seen 

The external processor has to be maintained and cared for so that the child is always listening to sounds.

The processor care can be categorised in two groups:

I. Providing repairs,replacements and batteries.Some components are covered in warranty and we always prepare parents to keep aside an amount for these regular maintainance in our pre operative councelling.

II.To provide access to newer technology which can provide improved perception of speech to the implantee.
Usually the external processor is changed anywhere between 3-10 years (on an average of 5 years,child may need a new speech processor).

Newer technologies may provide better access to spoken language and ease/comfort of use.

Following links provide information on processor upgrade criteria in Australia and Canada where upgrades are government sponsored.

www.hearing.com.au

Sharing the Canadian Guidelines for Processor upgrades  for Pediatric Cochlear Implant users

https://www.cadth.ca/speech-processor-upgrades-pediatric-patients-cochlear-implants-clinical-evidence-and-guidelines

2015 - The year which lead me from a job to a career

There is a not of unrest amongst doctors these days.The growth of private corporate hospitals is  making it difficult for private practices to survive.Managers in these hospitals are looking for turnovers and quarterly growth. Doctors are stuck between good medical practices and economics of getting that paycheck.

This is beautifully sum up in an article http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/04/27/why-do-so-many-doctors-regret-their-job-choice/.Though it's in American context,some applies to us as well.
"The transformation of the field from independence and professionalism to being commoditized and feeling like you’re just another worker is disheartening to some,” says Howard Forman, a professor at the Yale School of Management who researches diagnostic radiology, health policy and healthcare leadership.

I myself had a successful job at a corporate hospital for ten years. My passion for pediatric ENT took me to Spastics Society of Karnataka and Indira Institute of Child Health,working as an Honarary.

I started doing ground work on pediatric deafness when I started the pilot of Universal hearing screening at K C General Hospital in 2013.I worked with NRHM .(National Rural Health Mission)

Finally the decision of leaving a corporate OPD practice came and it was not easy. I still need to go to a corporate to operate as I perform high end surgeries like Cochlear Implantation.I also perform Endoscopic Sinus surgery and do Base of skull work with Neurosurgeons.

Within 6 months of leaving corporate and starting our Anganwadi and government school screenings,we were rolling.We were the finalists in the prestigious BMJ South Asia Award in Healthcare Advocacy Category.

There is a long road ahead..

I want to see a day where Newborn hearing screening is made Mandatory in India nad every child is screened regularly till age 6 years.

Along with above,I wish to support as many under privileged hearing challenged children as I can and help them to be mainstreamed.

All of above is only possible with the support of my team and well wishers

Age appropriate Speech and Hearing in children

Hearing and speech together forms almost 40% of all disabilities in children, early diagnosis is the key for habilitating these children.

1-5:1000 children are born with some degree of hearing loss. 5-10% of pre-schoolers have speech problems. Hearing is critical for learning speech, language and communication. Apart from hearing loss, other causes of speech delay include learning disabilities, structural abnormalities like cleft palate, autism spectrum disorders, expressive speech delay to name a few.Early diagnosis for disabilities means diagnosis at birth or below three years.If the diagnosis is delayed,i.e. after 6-8 years,it is difficult to mainstream.

Below is the age appropriate hearing and speech chart from birth to 5 years. 

I must mention that if a child achieves about 70 % of these milestones, it is satisfactory. If any concerns, child should be assessed by a doctor immediately. Hearing screening should be done in all babies at birth. Hearing loss can be confirmed as early as 3 months of age and habilitation should be started as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.

Hearing and language communication starts at birth

Hope we celebrated Diwali safely...

Sharing an article with views from our center in Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/510898/dark-side-light.html

The dark side of the light - Deccan Herald

www.deccanherald.com › Supplements › Metrolife

Oct 9, 2015 - Dr Srinivas HV, medical director of Aditya Netralaya, sees around four to five ... Dr Sheelu Srinivas, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Director,Dr Sheelu’s ENT Centre and Deafness Habilitation Uni

Sound pollution also occurs during this season. Dr Sheelu Srinivas, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Director, Dr Sheelu’s ENT Centre and Deafness Habilitation Unit, says, “There is not much that one can do about this apart from staying away from crackers entirely or bursting the less noisy ones.” 

She adds, “If a cracker bursts very close to the ear, the person may experience a ringing sound in the ear or a tear in the eardrum. Any noise above 85 decibels can cause damage to the inner ear.” She advises people to burst crackers in larger spaces. “They can also use ear muffs as this dampens the sound out.