3-year-old girl receives AI-based Cochlear implant at Jaipur Government Hospital

In a medical first for Rajasthan’s government hospitals, doctors at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences implanted an AI-powered cochlear device in a three-year-old girl, offering hope for improved hearing and speech.

A three-year-old girl with congenital hearing impairment has successfully undergone an artificial intelligence-based cochlear implant procedure at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, marking a significant milestone for public healthcare facilities in the state.

Doctors said the nearly three-hour-long surgery was successful and the child is stable. According to specialists, she is expected to begin hearing and speaking within about 21 days as the device is activated and adjusted.

The procedure was led by Dr Mohnish Grover, senior professor in the ENT department, who described the operation as the first of its kind involving an AI-enabled cochlear implant in a government hospital in Rajasthan.

“This is the first such advanced cochlear implant procedure performed at a government hospital in the state, and it could open new possibilities in the treatment of hearing-impaired children,” Dr Grover said.

Condition and treatment

The child had been suffering from congenital hearing impairment, which can significantly hinder normal hearing and speech development if untreated.

Doctors explained that the girl was not completely deaf at birth and could initially sense sounds. However, her hearing gradually deteriorated after the age of two, eventually leading to complete hearing loss.

The surgery involved implanting an advanced cochlear implant, a medical device designed to stimulate the auditory nerve directly and help restore hearing in individuals with severe hearing impairment.

AI-powered technology

According to the medical team, the implant contains a high-speed processing chip that enhances sound clarity and processing speed. The device uses smart nerve technology to help surgeons determine accurate placement during the procedure, improving surgical precision.

The implant also includes internal memory capable of storing patient mapping and auditory data, allowing doctors to periodically update and fine-tune the device similar to software updates on a smartphone.

Doctors noted that the internal implant can function for nearly 30 years, while the external sound processor typically requires a battery replacement every three years.

Expanding advanced healthcare

Naresh Kumar Goyal, commissioner of the state’s medical education department, said the successful surgery represents an important step toward expanding advanced healthcare services in Rajasthan’s public hospitals.

He added that the initiative will help strengthen efforts to provide modern medical treatments within the state so that patients do not need to travel elsewhere for specialised procedures.

Medical experts say early cochlear implantation can significantly improve speech and language development in children with hearing loss, especially when combined with post-surgery therapy and auditory training.

With the success of this AI-based implant procedure, doctors hope more children with hearing impairments will benefit from advanced technology and improved access to specialised treatment in government healthcare institutions.