Indore: Prakash Chand Sethi Hospital has become the only government hospital in the state to house compulsory neonatal screening facility through which hearing power of a three-day old baby can be checked. The facility has begun in the hospital during World Hearing Week,which is observed from March 3-10 annually.
ENT specialist at PC Sethi Hospital Dr Zafar Pathan said it is the only hospital in the state to have compulsory neonatology screening to check hearing power of the neonate. “The facility is available in some private hospitals though,” he remarked. He said screening to be done through otoacoustic emissions (OAE) will be free for patients.
“The rate of congenital deaf and mute children is 2 in 1000 children. Most children remain undetected till 3 to 4 years of age by the time its brain develops. As a result, cochlear implant becomes unsuccessful in children. After development of brain, baby remains undeveloped in speech and also lags behind in studies and other things,” Dr Pathan added.
After being detected with hearing loss or low hearing power, the child’s examination will be scheduled after 15 days and later after two months. “We will plan child’s treatment according to OAE screening test. His cochlear implant will be done later,” he added.
“The government is providing assistance fund for cochlear implant but early detection will help in child’s brain development. The cost of cochlear implant is about Rs 6 lakh to Rs 6.50 lakh. More than 100 implants were done in Indore last year,” Dr Pathan said.
