PGIMER Advances Hearing Loss Treatment with Auditory Brainstem Implant Surgery

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is poised to introduce auditory brainstem implant (ABI) surgery, a groundbreaking treatment option for patients of hearing loss

The auditory brainstem implant surgery is critical for children between the ages of one to three, who are born deafdepositphotos

Published on:

21 Jan 2025, 4:50 pm

A landmark workshop

In an attempt to train surgeons in this intricate procedure, PGIMER recently organised a two-day Auditory Brainstem Implant workshop, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. The event featured some of the most respected experts in the field, including the trailblazer in ABI surgeries from the Madras ENT Research Foundation, Dr. Mohan Kameswaran, and German neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Behr from University Medicine Marburg Campus. Their cadaveric demonstrations and lectures gave valuable insights into this sophisticated technique. Surgeons and audiologists from renowned institutions such as Delhi AIIMS, Lucknow SGPGI, and Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital participated in the workshop, which set the stage for independent ABI surgeries at PGIMER. The institute had previously conducted one ABI surgery in 2022 under Dr. Kameswaran's guidance but is now preparing for three new cases, including a three-year-old from Himachal Pradesh and two children, aged five and six, from Uttar Pradesh.

A very expensive but life-changing technology

ABI surgery is crucial for children who are born deaf specifically between the age of one to three years in which it proves to be quite effective. A cochlear implant costs about ₹5 lakh at government hospitals, ABI is a gadget designed for people whose cochlear nerve either is absent or damaged. An implant bypasses the damaged auditory pathway by directly exciting the brain stem and converting it into electrical impulses for hearing and perception.

ABI surgery is crucial for children who are born with hearing loss specifically between the age of one to three years in which it proves to be quite effectivedepositphotos

However, the financial burden is significant in terms of ABI. The implant device alone costs approximately ₹14.5 lakh and the total surgery cost can reach up to ₹17 lakh in private hospitals. Though Tamil Nadu is the only state offering full financial coverage for such surgeries in children under six years, other areas offer very limited support. For surgeries at PGIMER scheduled soon, two patients have been given financial assistance of ₹4–5 lakh by their respective state governments. ENT specialist Dr. Ameet Kishore from Apollo Hospital said the government should help in making this technology available.

Global Perspective

This is a concern in India due to limited awareness and accessibility. Since India has more than 6.3 million with hearing losses ^[1], and access to this advanced treatment like ABI is highly restricted to just a few special centres, need for early diagnosis and intervention to establish better improvement in children having hearing impairments have highlighted.^[2]

There is increasing interest among Indian surgeons. The country has a huge population and millions of children who remain undiagnosed. Proper training can make ABI surgery much more accessible.

Dr. Robert Behr, ABI surgeon

PGIMER's initiative to conduct ABI surgery independently is an indicator of the possibility of adopting high-tech solutions in India's medical infrastructure for the treatment of complex health conditions. The more surgeons are trained and more people are aware, the better the prospects for the widespread availability of advanced auditory implants.

References:

The Lancet Global Health. "Amplifying the Global Issue of Hearing Loss." The Lancet Global Health 10, no. 10 (2025): e1360.
Indian Journal of Otology. "Auditory Brainstem Implants."

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)

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