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MGM HEALTHCARE ·
ENT & COCHLEAR IMPLANT CENTRE From Silence to Sound How MGM
Healthcare Restored Hearing in a 2-Year-Old from Odisha Using the NEXA Smart
Cochlear Implant Prof. Dr. Sanjeev
Mohanty | Senior
Consultant & HOD, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery 📍 MGM Healthcare, Chennai | 🏆 First NEXA Smart Cochlear Implant Recipient in Odisha | ⏱ 6 Min Read |
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30+ Years of ENT Expertise |
1st NEXA Recipient in Odisha |
2 Yrs Patient's Age at Surgery |
100% Bilateral Hearing Restored |
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Clinical Excellence · Compassionate Care ·
Technology-Led Outcomes |
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.png "Best Ent Surgeon in Chennai")
INTRODUCTION
A Child from Odisha Hears for the Very First Time
Imagine your toddler never hearing your voice
— not a lullaby, not their own name being called. For one family from Odisha, this heartbreaking silence was an
everyday reality. Thanks to a landmark cochlear
implant surgery at MGM Healthcare,
Chennai, that silence has been replaced by the sounds of childhood.
In this blog, you will learn about profound bilateral hearing loss in children,
the revolutionary NEXA Smart Cochlear Implant,
and how MGM Healthcare's expert ENT team — led by Prof.
Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty — made history by performing the first such surgery for a recipient from Odisha.
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📋 TABLE OF CONTENTS 01. What is Profound Bilateral
Hearing Loss in Children? 02. What is a Cochlear Implant and
How Does It Work? 03. Introducing the NEXA Smart
Cochlear Implant 04. MGM Healthcare's Landmark
Surgery 05. Why Choose MGM Healthcare for
Cochlear Implant Surgery? 06. The Cochlear Implant Journey —
What Families Can Expect 07. Why Early Intervention Matters
in Paediatric Hearing Loss 08. Key Takeaways & Conclusion 09. References & Further Reading |
SECTION 01
What is Profound Bilateral Hearing Loss in Children?
Profound
bilateral hearing loss refers to a severe inability to hear in both
ears, where a child cannot perceive sounds even at high volumes without medical
intervention. It is one of the most common congenital disabilities, affecting
approximately 1–3 in every 1,000 newborns
globally. In India, the burden is significant — learn more on Wikipedia:
Hearing Loss.
Signs and Symptoms Parents Should
Watch For
Parents and caregivers are often the first to
notice subtle signs. Key warning signs include:
•
No response to loud
sounds by 3–4 months of age
•
Absence of babbling or
cooing by 6 months
•
Failure to turn toward
sounds or voices by 12 months
•
No single meaningful
words by 12–15 months
•
Lack of reaction
when their name is called repeatedly
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⚠️ Important: If you notice any of these signs, do not wait. An
audiological evaluation should be sought immediately. Every month of delay is
a missed opportunity for the developing brain. |
Why Early Diagnosis is Critical
The first three years of life represent the
most critical window for auditory brain
development. Without sound stimulation, the auditory pathways in the brain do not develop
normally. Diagnosis before 6 months
and intervention before 12 months is
considered the global gold standard for best outcomes. See also: WHO: World Report on Hearing.
SECTION 02
What is a Cochlear Implant and How Does It Work?
A cochlear
implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that bypasses
damaged hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea)
and directly stimulates the auditory nerve,
allowing the brain to perceive sound. Unlike a conventional hearing aid that simply amplifies sound, a
cochlear implant creates an entirely new pathway for hearing. For a detailed
explanation, see Wikipedia: Cochlear Implant.
Cochlear Implant vs. Hearing Aid —
Key Differences
|
Feature |
Hearing
Aid |
Cochlear
Implant ✦ |
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Mechanism |
Amplifies sound |
Directly stimulates auditory
nerve |
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Suitable For |
Mild to moderate loss |
Severe to profound hearing
loss |
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Requires Surgery |
No |
Yes — Minor, safe procedure |
|
Sound Quality |
Limited in profound loss |
Superior in severe/profound
cases |
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Age of Candidacy |
Any age |
Typically 12 months and above |
Who is an Ideal Candidate for
Cochlear Implant Surgery?
Candidacy is assessed by a multidisciplinary
team. The ideal candidate includes:
•
Children aged 12 months
and older with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss
•
Children showing limited
or no benefit from hearing aids after a trial period
•
No significant medical
contraindications to general anaesthesia
•
Families committed to post-surgical
Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT)
SECTION 03
Introducing the NEXA Smart Cochlear Implant
The NEXA Smart
Cochlear Implant represents a major leap forward in paediatric
hearing technology. It delivers superior sound clarity, robust connectivity,
and adaptive performance tailored to
each individual user's auditory environment.
What Makes NEXA Smart Technology
Advanced?
•
Adaptive Sound
Processing — Automatically adjusts to different listening
environments
•
Wireless Connectivity
— Compatible with modern digital devices
•
Child-Friendly Design
— Compact and optimised for active toddlers
•
Future-Proof
Upgradability — Remains relevant as technology evolves
•
Enhanced Speech
Recognition — Superior performance even in noisy environments
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🏆
Historic Milestone The two-year-old patient from
Odisha became the first-ever recipient
of the NEXA Smart Cochlear Implant in the state of Odisha — bringing world-class hearing care to Eastern India. |
SECTION 04
MGM Healthcare's Landmark Surgery — Restoring a Child's World of Sound
The patient — a two-year-old
from Odisha — was diagnosed with profound bilateral hearing loss,
meaning the child had no functional hearing in either ear. The family travelled
from Odisha to Chennai, placing their trust in MGM
Healthcare's reputation for clinical excellence in advanced otology
and cochlear implant care.
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👨⚕️ Prof.
Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty Senior Consultant & Head of Department
| ENT, Head & Neck
Surgery | MGM Healthcare, Chennai With over three decades
of experience in advanced otology and cochlear implantation, Prof.
Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty is one of India's foremost experts in paediatric hearing
restoration. His surgical precision, combined with deep empathy for patients
and families, has resulted in successful outcomes for hundreds of children
across the country. Expertise: 30+ Years Experience •
Advanced Otology • Cochlear Implantation •
ENT Head & Neck Surgery |
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"Every child deserves to hear. Our goal is to
bring the most advanced hearing technology to every family that needs it,
regardless of where they come from." — Prof.
Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty, HOD ENT · MGM Healthcare, Chennai |
The Multidisciplinary Team
•
Paediatric
Anaesthesiologists — Ensured child-safe anaesthesia protocols
throughout the procedure
•
Audiologists
— Provided intra-operative monitoring and post-surgical device mapping
•
Speech-Language
Pathologists — Guided post-implantation Auditory Verbal Therapy
(AVT)
•
Specialist Nursing &
ICU Team — Ensured seamless perioperative care and recovery support
MGM Healthcare's ENT
Infrastructure
•
Advanced intraoperative
imaging and monitoring systems
•
Dedicated paediatric ENT
operation theatres
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Comprehensive audiology
and hearing rehabilitation centre
•
Internationally benchmarked patient
safety protocols
SECTION 05
Why Choose MGM Healthcare for Cochlear Implant Surgery?
MGM Healthcare's philosophy is rooted in clinical excellence and compassionate care.
The hospital consistently adopts the latest advancements in hearing technology.
Each cochlear implant case is reviewed by a dedicated cochlear implant committee that evaluates
candidacy, selects the most appropriate technology, and designs a customised rehabilitation roadmap. Families are supported
at every step — from first consultation through years of post-implant
follow-up.
SECTION 06
The Cochlear Implant Journey — What Families Can Expect
Pre-Surgical Evaluation
1.
BERA / Pure Tone
Audiometry — Confirms the degree and type of hearing loss
2.
CT Scan & MRI of
Temporal Bones — Assesses cochlear anatomy and confirms surgical
feasibility
3.
Paediatric Medical
Assessment — Confirms fitness for general anaesthesia
4.
Psychological &
Speech Assessment — Establishes baseline communication levels
5.
Hearing Aid Trial
— Rules out significant benefit from conventional amplification
The Surgery Process
Performed under general
anaesthesia and typically taking 2–3
hours, the surgeon makes a small incision behind the ear, creates a
small opening in the mastoid bone,
and carefully threads the electrode array
into the cochlea. The child is usually discharged within 24–48 hours post-surgery, with the external
speech processor activated 3–4 weeks later.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation —
Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT)
Auditory-Verbal
Therapy (AVT) is the most critical phase of the hearing journey. It
teaches the child to listen and interpret sounds, develop spoken language, and
integrate hearing into everyday social and academic life. Regular audiological mapping sessions fine-tune the
device's settings as the child grows. Learn more: NIH — NIDCD: Cochlear Implants.
SECTION 07
Why Early Intervention Matters in Paediatric Hearing Loss
Research consistently demonstrates that earlier cochlear implantation yields significantly better
outcomes. Children implanted before 12–18
months show superior results across every developmental measure. For
further reading, see Healthline: Cochlear Implants and Mayo Clinic: Cochlear Implants.
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Benefits
of Early Cochlear Implantation: ✓ Superior
speech intelligibility compared to later-implanted peers ✓ Better
language development milestones achieved ✓ Higher
academic achievement and social integration ✓ Reduced
need for special education support |
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💡 Action Point: If your child has not passed a newborn hearing screening, or if you have concerns about their hearing and
speech development — do not wait.
Contact MGM Healthcare today. |
SECTION 08
Key Takeaways & Conclusion
The successful NEXA
Smart Cochlear Implant surgery at MGM Healthcare, Chennai, is more
than a medical milestone — it is a story of hope, technology, and the
transformative power of expert care. A two-year-old
from Odisha now has the gift of sound, the foundation of language,
and a future filled with possibility.
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📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS ✦ Profound
bilateral hearing loss in children requires urgent expert medical
intervention ✦ The NEXA
Smart Cochlear Implant offers advanced, adaptive hearing
technology for young children ✦ Early
intervention before 12–18 months delivers the best long-term
outcomes ✦ Prof.
Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty and MGM Healthcare provide world-class
cochlear implant care in Chennai ✦ Families from Odisha and across India can access this
life-changing surgery at MGM Healthcare |
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📞 BOOK A CONSULTATION AT MGM HEALTHCARE Is
your child showing signs of hearing difficulty? Don't wait. Contact MGM
Healthcare's ENT & Cochlear Implant Centre today for a comprehensive
hearing evaluation with Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty. 📍 MGM Healthcare, Chennai | 🌐
www.mgmhealthcare.in | 📧
ent@mgmhealthcare.in Internal Links: Learn More
About Our Cochlear Implant Programme | Sinus &
ENT Treatments in Chennai
| Book an
Appointment |
References & Further Reading
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES & BACKLINKS
6.
Wikipedia: Cochlear Implant
8.
Wikipedia: Sensorineural Hearing Loss
9.
WHO: World Report on Hearing (2021)
10.Healthline: Cochlear Implants — What You Need to Know
12.Mayo Clinic: Cochlear Implants Overview
13.Medical News Today: What to Know About Cochlear Implants
14.NIH — NIDCD: Cochlear Implants
15.American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS): Cochlear
Implants
16.Cochlear
Implants International — Peer-reviewed Journal
17.Times of India Health: ENT & Hearing Care News
18.The
Hindu: Health & Medicine Coverage
DISCLAIMER
This blog is
intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not
constitute medical advice. All medical decisions should be made in consultation
with a qualified ENT specialist or cochlear implant surgeon. Individual
outcomes may vary.
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