Officials said the breakthrough came after expert consultation with Prof Ramandeep from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. A specialised diagnostic test conducted there confirmed the integrity of the auditory nerve in the right ear. The intricate surgery was performed in the second week of Jan by SGPGI’s neuro-otology team led by Dr M Ravi Sankar. Doctors used a state-of-the-art cochlear implant processor capable of delivering near-normal speech coding, significantly improving the patient’s ability to perceive and understand speech. This advanced implant technology was used for the 1st time in the state. The implant was activated on Tuesday, with doctors reporting immediate and encouraging responses to sound. “The activation marked a major milestone for the patient, who completely lost the ability to hear,” an official said. The activation procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary audiology team, including Parul from PGIMER, Chandigarh, along with SGPGI audiologists Adya, Keerti and Mangal. The process was supported by special audiology invitees Mathur and Shivangi. “This was an exceptionally complex post-traumatic case. From confirming nerve function through inter-institutional collaboration to deploying the latest implant technology, every step required meticulous planning. The successful outcome highlights the strength of teamwork and technological advancement,” said a senior member of the medical team. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that bypass damaged structures of the inner ear and stimulate the auditory nerve, enabling individuals with severe hearing loss to perceive sound. Experts said the success of this procedure is particularly significant because post-traumatic cochlear implantation remains challenging due to altered anatomy and nerve damage. The patient will now undergo intensive auditory rehabilitation to learn how to interpret the new auditory signals.
