On February 25th, 2023, we at Pratidhwani- Hearing Hub & Cochlear Implant Clinic, Guwahati in collaboration with Pratiksha Hospital, Guwahati celebrated International Cochlear Implant Day. The day holds special significance as it marks the anniversary of the first-ever electric stimulation of the auditory nerve to elicit the perception of sound by Charles Eyries and Andre Djourno in 1957.
Our celebration had two main objectives – to celebrate the journey and achievements of our cochlear implant recipient families and to raise awareness about cochlear implants among the public. We were thrilled to have over 60 families of cochlear implant recipients join us for the event, where little cochlear implant recipients performed songs, dances, and recited poems. We were also delighted by and grateful for the widespread media coverage of the program.

Cochlear implants have helped millions of people around the world overcome hearing loss and improve their quality of life. However, there is a significant gap between the number of individuals requiring a cochlear implant and those who actually receive one. The disparity is even more profound in developing nations like India.

Lack of awareness and misconceptions about cochlear implants among the general public and healthcare professionals, as well as inadequate funding, are some of the biggest roadblocks to ensuring access to this life-changing technology. However, it’s heartening to see significant developments in the cochlear implant program in India in recent years, especially with government-funded programs. We are also pleased to see a surge in cochlear implantation even in Northeast India. However, unlike any other medical treatment, cochlear implantation requires very dedicated and individualised care in programming and maintenance of the device as well as speech therapy/auditory habilitation for several years after the surgery, to get optimum results.

Pratidhwani has been providing audiological and auditory habilitation services for cochlear implant recipients since 2018, to numerous families from across the northeast. Events like the one organized by us can go a long way in raising awareness and increasing access to cochlear implants for those in need. We are grateful to all the families who joined us to make this event a success and look forward to continuing our efforts to promote the benefits of cochlear implants and support those who have received them.