Renowned Bollywood Director, Subhash Ghai bestowed his blessings on the children during the event
by Suman Gupta
Mumbai : In India, the serious issue of hearing loss is often overlooked. The severe auditory disability could be mitigated if cochlear implants are made available at the right time. Lilavati Hospital is a beacon of hope for such patients by recently initiating an advanced program for surgically implantable hearing devices that can provide deaf or hard-of-hearing children with access to life-altering cochlear implants capable of restoring their hearing completely. To raise awareness about this issue, the hospital arranged a festive party for 30-40 children with cochlear implants and their parents during Christmas. Famous Bollywood director Subhash Ghai was present as the chief guest at this event.
The event featured puppet shows, magic acts, bubble displays, dancing, and photography sessions followed by refreshments. A helpful 15-minute session on post-cochlear implant care was also conducted which proved educational for all attendees.
The detrimental effects of hearing loss on a child’s holistic health go beyond mere communication problems. It can create a complex web of emotional and social challenges that might overshadow their capabilities. Each missed conversation can gradually erode the child’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Unaddressed hearing loss in children can lead to issues like anxiety, depression, and poor academic performance. Most cases are preventable, and with robust newborn screening programs and timely intervention mechanisms such as cochlear implants, this problem can be tackled without any difficulty. Every year 25 thousand babies are born with deafness.
To address this, the hospital has initiated a program offering cochlear implants to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, enabling them to regain full hearing. The program also includes comprehensive evaluation and care from a multidisciplinary team comprising ENT surgeons, AUDIOLOGISTS ( Satyanbhan, Poojagorawara, Abhishek, Neha) neurologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, and social workers. It further involves careful upkeep of medical records, state-of-the-art operation theatres equipped with modern facilities for in-house rehabilitation, and prompt problem-solving measures. All these services are offered at significant discounts for families from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Dr Christopher de Souza, a famous ENT surgeon at Lilavati Hospital.
A cochlear implant is a sophisticated artificial electronic hearing device that receives sounds from the environment and converts them into electrical impulses that stimulate the fibers of the acoustic nerve. It is for those with sensorineural impairment, with irreparable damage that cannot be treated with regular hearing aids. They are implants and not transplants. Cochlear implant surgery changes the lives of children born deaf, providing them with the opportunity to “learn” how to hear and participate actively in mainstream education. The implant enables both adults and children to be aware of background noises, improves speech recognition and speech comprehension and in addition, speech execution and lip reading are enhanced. The implant is not significantly larger than other hearing aids and can be concealed under the hair. “We have a team of professionals who have triumphantly executed more than how many surgeries involving implantable hearing devices. More than 500 cochlear implant surgeries have been performed successfully. We aim to cover as many children as possible under this program,” said Dr.Christopher.
Renowned Bollywood Director Subhash Ghai said, “My heartiest congratulations to Lilavati Hospital. I am thankful to the Hospital for inviting me to this beautiful, emotional uplift of humanity by serving this kind of exercise and initiative. I am a director, I make films and stories. We make songs for films and hear them, we make everything with the help of sound and visuals. Don’t ever think that you are patient. These children are a blessing of God. Today, some children present at the event can be tomorrow’s leaders doctors, or celebrities of the country. There are five basic human senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste which are important. These children are deprived sometimes and parents have a responsibility to fulfil here. Parents shouldn’t pity their children instead they should motivate when the child is struggling. There is a cure for everything. Parents should encourage their children and provide them the internal strength. Give the child love and freedom to do what they want to do. It is our duty to protect children and I am happy about the efforts taken by Lilavati Hospital. This is a Nobel and positive cause taken up by the Hospital. I want to applaud the courage of the parents of these children. Parents should love and help their children along with giving them confidence. The child can do anything when he is confident enough. Don’t tell children that they are patients instead tell them to have patience. My blessings and love to the children present at the event.”
My son Laxman has had a hearing loss problem since childhood. He wasn’t talking and we tried to seek help for him but we couldn’t understand what exactly the problem was. But, Laxman has benefitted from the cochlear implant. He wasn’t able to talk earlier. But now, he can talk, is more confident, and does everything on his own. He goes to school and studies in class 7. His life has changed for the better now,” said Chitra Kunwar, the mother of 13-year-old cochlear implant patient Laxman from Goregaon, Mumbai.
“During childhood, my son Rohit was having hearing loss in one ear and his hearing capacity was 35%. After undergoing surgery at Lilavati Hospital, his life changed. I feel proud now,” Archana Shevale, the mother of 17-year-old cochlear implant patient Rohit from Walkeshwar, Mumbai.
Mr Rajender Purohit, Director, Finance, Lilavati Hospital Said, “Lilavati Hospital stands proud as a premier institution committed to transforming the lives of children suffering from hearing loss. We venture beyond traditional methods, providing cochlear implants as an innovative solution that not only restores hearing but also reinstates hope and fullness of life. The Hospital is the epitome of clinical excellence and a guiding light in enhancing the lives of these children. We are immensely thankful to Shri Subhash Ghai for honoring this event and inspiring children towards a healthier lifestyle and promising future. We aspire to keep making a difference in the lives of those who require our aid, enabling them to live without constraints.”
