Toowoomba Hospital performs first cochlear implant surgery
Dr Ranit De explains how cochlear implant surgery will allow a Toowoomba mother to hear her children’s voices this Christmas.
AFTER a decade of silence, Toowoomba mother Sandy Trinham has been given the gift of hearing just in time for Christmas.
Toowoomba Hospital ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Ranit De performed a successful cochlear implant surgery on Ms Trinham yesterday.
The $25,000 device is due to be switched on in a fortnight to allow Ms Trinham to hear her children's voices and the sound of Christmas carols.
It was the first time the groundbreaking surgery has been performed at Toowoomba Hospital, as it is near-impossible for adult patients to receive without private health cover.
"Sandy will be able to manage both home and work life much more easily," Dr De said.
"The sound heard through a cochlear implant is very different to that of natural hearing but with time and rehabilitation the hearing will become second nature to her."
Dr De has performed six of the procedures in Toowoomba since he moved from the United Kingdom in March, but all had been under the private health system.
The surgery is commonplace in the UK, but is still in its infancy in the Garden City.
"The public health system in Queensland funds cochlear implants for children however there is a long wait for adults," Dr De said.
"There are two parts to the cochlear implant device - the external device which has a microphone, processor and power source and the internal device which contains fine electrodes that direct current to the nerves of hearing."
He called yesterday's operation "a milestone" made possible by a donation of two implants from Cochlear Australia and funding for the $3000 rehabilitation program by the Rotary Club of Toowoomba.
"In August this year I went to Kazakhstan to conduct charity work (implant surgery) and the Rotary Club of Toowoomba asked me to speak about my experiences," Dr De said.
"When they heard about the ongoing costs for patients following cochlear implant surgery, they offered to help."
The Neurosensory Unit Toowoomba has also donated the time and resources so Ms Trinham has the support she needs in the coming years.
"After our patient has the surgery she will have two weeks for the surgery site to heal and then the implants are switched on," Dr De said.
"This will be just in time for her to hear at Christmas and a wonderful Christmas present for her and her family."
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