In a significant step towards providing comprehensive, patient-centric, and world-class care for children and adults with hearing loss, RUHS College of Medical Sciences and Attached Hospitals has launched a Dedicated Cochlear Implant Clinic. The clinic will function every Thursday, bringing together all specialists involved in cochlear implant care at a single location.
Dr. Mohneesh Grover, Principal and Controller, RUHS College of Medical Sciences said that the primary objective of this initiative is to provide a “one-stop” multidisciplinary service, ensuring that patients and their families do not have to visit multiple departments for consultations and evaluations.
“Instead, all necessary specialist consultations, treatment planning, and referrals will be completed during a single visit, making the treatment process more efficient, coordinated, and patient-friendly,” he said.
The clinic will be jointly attended by specialists from the Departments of ENT, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Anaesthesia, along with experienced Audiologists.
What will happen in the Clinic?
Every patient will undergo comprehensive evaluation by the multidisciplinary team, enabling coordinated decision-making and individualized treatment planning. This integrated approach is expected to significantly reduce waiting time, improve communication among specialists, and enhance the overall quality of patient care.
Cochlear implantation is far more than a surgical procedure. It requires meticulous pre-operative assessment, detailed audiological evaluation, radiological investigations, pediatric assessment, psychological evaluation, anaesthesia clearance, surgery, post-operative device activation, mapping, auditory-verbal rehabilitation, speech therapy, and long-term follow-up.
The success of a cochlear implant depends on seamless coordination among all these disciplines. The newly established multidisciplinary clinic has been designed to integrate all these services under one roof, ensuring comprehensive and continuous care throughout the patient's journey.
The clinic will also serve as a dedicated follow-up centre for all patients who have already undergone cochlear implant surgery. Regular assessment of hearing outcomes, speech and language development, device performance, and rehabilitation progress will be carried out. Any medical, surgical, audiological, or rehabilitation-related concerns identified during follow-up will be addressed promptly by the multidisciplinary team. This structured follow-up will also facilitate systematic analysis of treatment outcomes, thereby helping improve patient care and contributing to future research and quality improvement.
This model of multidisciplinary cochlear implant care is routinely practiced in leading cochlear implant centres across several developed countries and has consistently demonstrated better patient outcomes and greater patient satisfaction. This is the first multidisciplinary cochlear implant clinic of its kind to be established in any medical college in Rajasthan, marking an important milestone in the state's hearing healthcare services.
RUHS College of Medical Sciences is currently performing cochlear implant surgeries on a regular basis and has developed a comprehensive cochlear implant programme supported by experienced surgeons, skilled audiologists, advanced modular operation theatres, modern operating microscopes, and state-of-the-art surgical equipment. The institution is committed not only to successful surgery but also to ensuring optimal hearing, speech, language development, and long-term rehabilitation for every patient.
Grover appreciates Rajasthan govt initiative
Appreciating the state government, Dr Grover said that Rajasthan government is establishing one of the best-funded cochlear implant programmes in the country.
“Through the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MAA) Scheme, children and adults with severe hearing loss, particularly those from economically weaker sections, are able to receive advanced cochlear implant treatment and rehabilitation without financial hardship. This reflects the Government's commitment towards inclusive, accessible, and high-quality healthcare,” he said.
He also emphasized that systematic long-term follow-up and outcome analysis will enable continuous improvement in patient care, strengthen research activities, and help establish RUHS College of Medical Sciences as a centre of excellence in cochlear implantation and hearing rehabilitation. He expressed confidence that this initiative would serve as a model for other medical colleges across Rajasthan and the country.
Also, RUHS has started providing free accessories and upgrades of cochlear implant under MAA Yojna.
