Karnataka Plans 200 More Cochlear Implants for Children With Hearing Loss

The Health Department of Karnataka has planned 200 additional cochlear implants for children with severe to profound hearing loss during 2026-27 under ‘Aalisu Kanda’, the state’s cochlear implant programme.

The programme is being implemented as part of the Shravan Dosh Mukta Abhiyan and is intended to help eligible children develop speech, language and communication skills through surgery and post-operative rehabilitation.

The planned procurement follows 575 cochlear implant surgeries conducted under the programme during the financial year 2025-26, according to details provided by the department.

Procurement to be carried out in two phases

For the current financial year, the department has planned the procurement and distribution of 200 additional implants so that eligible children can undergo surgery without delay.

Health Minister U. T. Khader said the procurement would be carried out in two phases.

Under the first phase, 75 cochlear implants will be supplied to empanelled hospitals.

Surgery for these children is expected to be completed within the next one to two months.

The Minister spoke after inaugurating a symposium on ‘Alisu Kanda’ in Bengaluru on October 22.

The department has also planned to procure another 125 implants within the next three months, Khader said.

These implants will be supplied to empanelled hospitals based on the requirements of beneficiaries and their clinical needs.

Together, the two phases will provide 200 additional implants during 2026-27.

The planned supply is intended to maintain the availability of devices in hospitals and support timely intervention for children who meet the eligibility criteria, the Minister said.

Surgery linked to rehabilitation

The programme is designed around more than the implantation procedure itself.

Severe to profound hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech and language, communicate with others and participate in education.

Early identification of hearing impairment, followed by timely treatment and rehabilitation, is important for improving outcomes.

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that help people with severe to profound hearing loss access sound.

However, implantation is only one part of the process, as children need appropriate post-operative care and rehabilitation to learn to interpret sounds and develop communication skills.

Karnataka’s programme provides for screening of beneficiaries, audiological assessment and verification of eligibility before surgery.

After implantation, children undergo device activation and mapping to help ensure that the device is appropriately programmed.

The department’s approach combines surgery with post-operative therapy and follow-up instead of treating implantation as a standalone intervention, the Minister said.

Follow-up and parental counselling

The programme includes structured Auditory-Verbal Therapy, regular follow-up and parental counselling.

These services are intended to help children develop listening, speech and language skills and make the best use of their implants.

Rehabilitation requires sustained support after surgery, according to the programme details.

Regular follow-up helps monitor a child’s progress and address needs that arise while the child develops communication skills.

Parental counselling is also included so that families can support the child’s learning and rehabilitation.

The planned distribution of implants to empanelled hospitals is expected to help maintain service delivery and ensure that children receive treatment according to their needs.

Focus on access and inclusion

The programme aims to improve access to cochlear implantation for eligible children across Karnataka.

It also seeks to support early speech and language development and strengthen children’s ability to communicate.

The stated objectives include improving children’s educational and social inclusion.

The programme also aims to support their participation in mainstream education.

By linking procurement and hospital supply with screening, eligibility checks, surgery, therapy and follow-up, the initiative covers the stages involved in helping children use the implants and develop communication skills.

The 200 additional implants planned for 2026-27 will therefore add to the programme’s earlier work while supporting continued treatment for eligible children.

Source: The Hindu