Hearing Restored Through Rare Bilateral Cochlear Implant Procedure at MGM Healthcare

Dr Sanjeev Mohanty, Senior Consultant and Head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at MGM Healthcare, says the rare procedure allows immediate auditory stimulation and faster rehabilitation for patients with auditory neuropathy

MGM Healthcare has successfully carried out a rare and first of its kind medical procedure involving simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation with immediate activation, restoring hearing for a 35 year old software professional from Chennai. The patient had experienced progressive hearing loss following a COVID 19 infection and was diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, a condition in which sound enters the inner ear normally but fails to transmit clearly from the cochlea to the brain.
According to the treating team, this is the first documented global case where bilateral cochlear implants were placed and activated during the same surgical procedure, unlike conventional protocols where implant activation is delayed by several days or weeks after surgery.

The patient, a mother of two and a manager at a multinational information technology company, relied extensively on virtual meetings and digital communication while working from home. After contracting COVID 19 a few years ago, she experienced gradual hearing deterioration, which progressed rapidly over the past six months to complete hearing loss in both ears. This significantly affected her professional responsibilities and quality of life.
A detailed diagnostic evaluation was conducted, including audiological assessments, CT scans, and MRI imaging of the brain and temporal bones. Based on these findings, she was diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, also known as auditory dys synchrony. In this condition, although sound reaches the inner ear, the signals from the cochlea do not reach the brain in a coordinated manner, resulting in severe difficulty in understanding speech.

The patient underwent simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation, during which implants were placed in both ears in a single surgery, followed by immediate intraoperative activation. Cochlear implants bypass damaged inner ear cells and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, enabling sound perception. The surgery lasted approximately five to six hours, and the patient was discharged within 48 hours of the procedure. With preserved speech and cognitive abilities, doctors expect significant improvement in speech comprehension and functional hearing within two to three months.
The surgery was led by Sanjeev Mohanty, Senior Consultant and Head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at MGM Healthcare, and was supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising audiologists, anaesthesiologists, speech and auditory verbal therapists, and specialised nursing staff.

Commenting on the procedure, Dr Mohanty said, “Based on available literature, this is the first documented global case of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation with immediate switch on in a patient with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. Early activation allows immediate auditory stimulation and supports faster rehabilitation. The procedure was performed using advanced surgical technologies including Smart Navigation guidance for real time precision, high resolution neurosurgical microscopes for enhanced visualisation, continuous facial nerve monitoring for safety, and minimal drilling techniques to reduce tissue trauma and support quicker recovery.”

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder accounts for nearly five percent of non age related hearing loss cases in India. While the exact cause is often unclear, the condition has been associated with immune mediated and post viral mechanisms, including those observed following COVID 19 infection.

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