Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
An upgrade and switch-on of the Kanso 3 Sound Processor was carried out at the Kimaya Cochlear Implant Centre of Dr. Hedgewar Hospital on February 19, 2026, where three children who had previously undergone cochlear implant surgery were provided with upgraded external sound processors. The three beneficiaries, aged between five and ten years, had received cochlear implants before the age of three under CSR-supported initiatives.
Doctors said cochlear implants performed in children with congenital hearing impairment consist of an internal implant and an external processor. While the implant remains fixed after surgery, the external processor often requires periodic upgrades as children grow and are exposed to new sounds and speech environments.
Financial assistance for the upgraded processors was provided through the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and donors. The cost of upgrading a sound processor can range between Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh, while the manufacturing company also extended concessions on new processors through a buy-back provision for older devices.
Audiologist and speech therapist Dr Dhanashri Bhisegaonkar said that since funds are available under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, parents should apply in larger numbers to access better treatment. She added that even if the implant surgery has been performed at another centre, parents can still apply through this centre for processor upgradation.
The initiative involved Dr Bharat Deshmukh, Dr Deepak Bhisegaonkar, Dr Manjiri Bramhapurkar and medical social worker Jeevan Joshi.
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