Satellite habilitation centres following cochlear implantation - Are they the way ahead in improving outcomes in developing countries?

INTRODUCTION

Cochlear implantation is a safe surgery for restoration of hearing in profoundly deaf children. Following cochlear implantation, children undergo rehabilitation (or 'habilitation' for those without previous hearing). The device is programmed after the surgery, so that the user can hear sounds through it and through rehabilitation training, the heard sounds are made to understand.

OBJECTIVE

Our study was aimed at analysing the role of satellite habilitation centres following cochlear implantation by analysing the outcomes following habilitation and comparing it with the outcomes of the main centre and correlating it with the percentage of attendance of classes. Our study also aims to compare the attendance of implant patients from outside the geographical area of the main centre before and after starting the satellite centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1004 profoundly deaf children (6 years and below) who had undergone cochlear implantation and completed 12months of habilitation in our institution from July 2013 to December 2019 were retrospectively analysed. The outcomes of all the centres were assessed by comparing the baseline CAP with CAP scores at 12 months and baseline SIR with SIR scores at 12 months. The outcomes of the main centre and satellite centres were also compared. The outcomes were correlated with percentage of attendance of classes.

OBSERVATION

The overall attendance in all the centres was between 75 and 80%. Both main and satellite centres showed statistically significant good outcomes and this correlates with percentage of attendance.

CONCLUSION

Satellite centres for habilitation across the state has greatly helped to improve the attendance of these patients and outcomes. Reduced drop-out rates and improved speech language outcomes can be achieved by starting satellite centres for habilitation post cochlear implantation in developing countries like India.