Kerala Social Security Mission’s ‘Dhwani’, a scheme that was devised to ensure follow-up care of children who have undergone cochlear implantation, has successfully brought back 58 children to the world of sounds and laughter once again.
These children with congenital hearing loss had undergone cochlear implantation surgery years ago to recover hearing. But with the processor of the implanted device developing mechanical fault, these children had sadly been forced to go back to a silent world.
On Friday, 13 children who had recovered the joy of sounds, thanks to Dhwani, visited Health and Social Justice Minister K.K. Shylaja to share their joy. The children, accompanied by their parents, were part of a delegation led by Cochlear Implantees’ Association and Charitable Society.
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Ms. Shylaja said Dhwani was a result of the commitment of the government to ensure that the children who had undergone cochlear implantation would continue to hear. Apart from the 58 who have already been taken care of under Dhwani, the future of the remaining applicants would also be secured soon, she said.
The government had taken cognisance of the issue of cochlear implants going defunct after a few years when Febin Fathima, an engineering student who had undergone cochlear implant surgery 15 years ago, came to see the Minister.
The processor of the implanted device in her ear had stopped working and her family could not afford to replace it at ₹5 lakh. The girl had appealed for the government’s aid, as with the loss of hearing, she would have had to discontinue her studies.
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Her case was resolved and it led to KSSM devising Dhwani to follow up all children who had undergone cochlear implantation. While 58 children, who like Febin had lost hearing after the implanted device stopped working, found hearing again, there are many more applicants waiting for their chance.
KSSM executive director Mohammed Asheel was also present during the children’s visit.