The Department of Health and Family Welfare, in association with a non-government organisation, will be conducting a camp to screen children with hearing disorders on December 7. Some of them would receive cochlear implants that would address hearing and speech problems.
Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said the camp, which is the first to be held in the State, was part of the State government’s initiative towards making Karnataka hearing disorder-free. The government was trying to make free the process of cochlear implant among children, especially those aged below five, he said.
Mr. Khader said that during this three-day camp, children will be screened for hearing disorders, and medicines and hearing aids will be prescribed as required. Those needing cochlear implants will undergo CT scan and MRI scan at a nearby private hospital. These children will be taken to Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru for free implants. A few months ago a child from Ullal had received the implant and she was responding well, the Minister said.
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He said the implant procedure cost about Rs. 6 lakh. The State government currently allowed a grant of Rs. 2 lakh under the Chief Minister’s fund for each implant, and was considering increasing this ceiling to Rs. 3 lakh, he said.