Chris Hani Baragwanath (CHB) hospital unveiled the first and successful paediatric cochlear implant this morning.
The hospital’s speech therapy and audiology department performed this implant on a two year old boy, Monthati Makofane, on 1 July 2009. The cochlear implant was activated for the first time today. The unit commenced on its cochlear implant programme in 2006 which, was the first government funded programme of its kind in the province.
“As the device was activated, Monthati immediately reacted to the sound by screaming and crying as he heard noises for the first time in his life”, said the hospital Senior Speech Therapist Dani Schlesinger.
Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital started with the cochlear implant project in 2006 and to date seven adults and Monthati have benefited from this initiative.
The cost of the implant is more than R200 000.
The cochlear implant is a device that is a surgically implanted into the inner ear and is able to bypass the damaged hearing pathway in deaf individuals. One of the recipients, 23 year old, Agnes Sekete, said ever since she had the implant her life changed drastically. “I was almost knocked down by a car because I did not hear the driver hooting behind me. My life was saved by a passer by who pulled me away from the street. Now I’m able to hear sounds, listen to radio and TV and even answer my cell phone”.
The cochlear implant unit at CHB currently has a large number of patients who would benefit from the device and ten patients have already undergone in-depth assessment this year. This assessment is required to determine whether the patient will be suitable candidate for the cochlear implant.
The second child on the list has just received approval from the hospital and another two are currently being submitted for consideration to the hospital management.
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 August 2009
