The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has achieved a cent per cent success rate in cochlear implantation.
Senior consultant at HMC Dr Ali al-Yafei told local Arabic daily Arrayah that a total of 450 surgeries were performed after the Cochlear Implantation programme was launched about 20 years ago. “The success rate depends on several matters that must be implemented after the implantation procedure,” al-Yafei said.
“The role of parents is very important and significant after the surgery through training children on speaking and communication skills as well as through HMC specialists. The operation also has some minor complications and side effects. These include inflammation, pain, dizziness, protrusion or movement of the device and some other complications,” al-Yafei explained.
The latest approved global devices are used for surgeries at HMC where devices are also provided free of charge to citizens while charity organisations help cases of patients who are unable to afford.
He said the Qatari medical team has transplanted 300 cases in the Gaza Strip since 2017. Since 2019, the team has transplanted 194 cases in Kyrgyzstan in co-operation with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs and HMC.
In 2003, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) launched the early detection programme for hearing loss from birth. Audiologists test hearing within two months of birth and if the test results are positive, cases are referred to HMC’s Day Care Centre to conduct a more accurate hearing test called ABR, through which the patient is diagnosed with the degree of hearing loss and the case is treated with either hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Dr Ali al-Yafei
