Dr Shiva Prasad Boddupally

 

A cochlear implant can open the door to a world of sound for a child with severe hearing loss. But surgery alone is not enough. For the best results, the real success happens at home — and that’s where parents play the most important role . Parents are with the child 24/7. They are the ones who: • Encourage the child to listen and respond to sounds • Help with speech and language practice every day • Attend therapy sessions and follow guidance from experts • Notice small changes and improvements • Keep the hearing device clean, working, and in use regularly That’s why we don’t stop at just treating the child — we also train the parents. We guide them through: • How the cochlear implant works • What to expect after surgery • How to support their child’s listening and speaking at home • How to stay positive and patient through the journey When parents are fully involved and confident, children make faster and better progress in hearing and speaking. Co...

 Audiologists are the experts who: • Test hearing ability • Identify the right candidates for cochlear implants • Assist during and after surgery • Program the device (called “mapping”) • Guide families throughout the hearing journey To improve outcomes, we have trained several audiologists across the Telugu states , equipping them with the skills needed to manage even complex cases. We also support multiple hospitals and cochlear implant centres to ensure the best possible results for patients — especially young children who need clear hearing to develop speech and language. Our goal is to create a strong support system — from diagnosis to rehabilitation — so that every individual who receives a cochlear implant can hear, speak, and thrive.

Three/four months ago, a 3-year-old boy came to me at Shravya Clinic along with all his hearing test reports and CT & MRI scans. The diagnosis showed: • Right ear: Profound hearing loss (very severe, no hearing) • Left ear: Severe hearing loss (can hear loud voices) His parents told me that their child can hear loud voices even without hearing aids in the left ear. He was using hearing aids for the past 6 months , but there was not much improvement . The MRI scan showed: • Right ear: No cochlear nerve (the nerve that sends sound signals to the brain is absent) • Left ear: The nerve is not clearly visible. They had already visited an ENT hospital where cochlear implant surgeries are done, and the doctor there suggested an implant in the left ear (child was hearing loud sounds with that ear). But someone advised them to take a second opinion , so they came to see me. After checking all the reports and talking to the parents, I had a big question in mind : Wh...

 A 3-year-old girl was diagnosed a year ago with profound hearing loss in the left ear and severe hearing loss (~70 dB) in the right ear . She was fitted with mid-power hearing aids (approx. ₹1.5 lakhs for both ears) and started speech therapy. However, after a few sessions with minimal speech improvement, the speech therapist referred her to me at Shravya, S.R. Nagar . Upon review, I examined her previous hearing assessments done at multiple centers—all of which consistently indicated the same degree of hearing loss. However, I noted that the hearing aids were not appropriately fitted or programmed . Instead of immediately replacing the devices, I thoroughly counseled the parents about her hearing condition and the limitations of the current hearing aids , then reprogrammed the same devices for optimal output. I advised them to continue speech therapy and follow up monthly to monitor progress. Conditioning sessions were carried out to obtain reliable responses with and witho...

Telangana (Hyderabad):  1. Amrita ENT Hospital, KPHB, Hyderabad - Dr Greeshma P, CI Surgeon  2. Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills - Dr EC Vinay Kumar, ENT HOD & CI Surgeon 3. Care Hospitals, Banjara Hills - Dr Vishnu Swaroop Reddy, ENT HOD & CI Surgeon 4. Govt Koti ENT Hospital, Koti, Hyderabad  5. KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad - Dr Janardhan Rao Jagini, ENT HOD & CI Surgeon  6. KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad - Dr Mahesh Kumar Revoori, ENT & CI Surgeon  7. MAA ENT Hospital, Dr Meghanath, CI Surgeon  (Telangana Hospital Names are mentioned in Alphabetical order)  Andhra Pradesh:  1. Bayya ENT Hospital, Guntur - Dr Bayya Srinivasa Rao  2. Dr Krishna Kishore - ENT & CI Surgeon  3. Dr R R Hospital, Guntur - ENT & CI Surgeon 

🏥 Telangana – Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Care Scheme • Cochlear implants covered up to ₹6.5 lakh  • Available for BPL families via Aarogyasri Health Care Trust   • Children under 3 years receive full implant coverage • Several government hospitals (e.g., Gandhi Hospital, Koti ENT Hospital)  🏥 Andhra Pradesh – Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Scheme • Bilateral cochlear implants fully funded for children under 3 years (Basic Model Implants). • Families with BPL status receive free of cost. • Includes external speech processor replacements per audiological need. • Also supports post-operative expenses, including travel, hospitalization, and therapy. ⚙ Central Support – ADIP Scheme (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) • Offers financial aid for cochlear implants, devices, and surgeries for below 5 yrs of age. • For families with income ≤ ₹20,000/month. • Covers appliance purchase, therapy, hospitalization, and travel. 🏢 NGO Assis...

If your child born with severe to profound hearing loss, it is best to get the cochlear implant as early as possible. 👉 The best age is between 9 to 12 months of age. Why so early? • Babies learn to listen and speak most easily in the first 3 years of life. • The brain is ready to learn sounds and language during this time. • The earlier the implant is given, the better the chances your child will develop normal speech and language, just like other children. ✅ Early diagnosis + early implant surgery + proper therapy = best results What if my child is older? • Cochlear implants can still help children up to 4–5 years of age. • However, the later the implant, the harder it is for the brain to catch up with speech and language. Key takeaway for parents 👉 Act early! 👉 Get your child’s hearing tested as soon as possible 👉 If a cochlear implant is needed, do not delay treatment

✅ External processor care • Handle it gently — it is a delicate electronic device • Keep it dry (avoid water exposure, unless it is a waterproof model or has a water cover) • Clean it regularly with a soft, dry cloth • Change microphone covers and cables as recommended • Use a drying kit or dehumidifier to remove moisture overnight • Store safely away from pets and small children ✅ Internal implant • Once placed inside, it usually does not need special care • Avoid strong impacts to the head area where the implant is placed ✅ Regular follow-ups • You’ll need regular programming (called mapping) of the speech processor • Annual hearing check-ups are recommended Maintenance Costs 🔹 Processor upgrades: • Every 7 to 10 years, you may consider upgrading the speech processor for better technology • Costs vary, but in India for example, upgrades can cost between ₹3.5 to 7.5 lakhs depending on brand and features 🔹 Spare parts: • Cables, coi...

A cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve. It has two main parts: ✅ External part (worn outside the ear) • A microphone picks up sounds from around you. • A speech processor converts those sounds into a digital signal. • This signal is sent through a transmitter coil on the outside of your head to the implant inside. ✅ Internal part (implanted under the skin) • The implant receives the signal from the outside part. • It sends the signal through an electrode placed inside the cochlea (your hearing organ). • The electrode directly stimulates the auditory nerve. • The auditory nerve then sends the sound information to your brain. Your brain learns to understand these signals as speech and other sounds. With practice and listening therapy, you can gradually make sense of them and improve your hearing. In short: 👉 The external device captures and codes the sound. 👉 The internal device delivers it strai...

✅ Anesthesia • You will be given general / Local anesthesia, so you will be completely asleep / awake and pain-free during the surgery. ✅ Surgical procedure • The surgeon makes a small cut behind the ear. • A small area of bone is removed to make space for the implant (called the receiver-stimulator). • An electrode array is gently inserted into the cochlea (the hearing organ) inside your inner ear. • The implant is then secured under the skin. • The skin is stitched up carefully. ✅ Duration • The surgery usually takes about 2 to 3 hours for one side and 5 to 6 hours for both ears. ✅ After surgery • Most people stay in the hospital for one day and go home. • The surgical area will be covered with a bandage for protection for few days. • You will need to come back after about 2–3 weeks to have the external speech processor switched-on and programmed. In short: Cochlear implant surgery is a safe and routine procedure where a small device is placed ...

 Internal Implant will have 10 years warranty  External Processor will have 3 years warranty  Most of the accessories (battery, coil cable and charger etc) will have 1 year warranty

1. Surgical site–related complications • Wound infection • Hematoma or seroma (collection of blood or fluid under the skin) • Flap breakdown (skin over the implant fails to heal) • Pain and swelling 2. Device-related problems • Device failure or malfunction (rare, but can happen) • Electrode array misplacement or migration 3. Facial nerve issues • Facial nerve stimulation (the electrodes may stimulate the facial nerve, causing twitching) • Facial nerve injury (rare, but a risk due to the nerve’s proximity) 4. Vestibular (balance) issues • Vertigo or dizziness, usually temporary • Imbalance 5. Hearing–related concerns • Loss of any remaining natural hearing in the implanted ear • Tinnitus (ringing in the ear, may persist or worsen) 6. CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) leak • Possible if there is a communication with the inner ear structures (perilymph gusher, especially in inner ear malformations) 7. Meningitis • Very rare but serious; tha...