9־יעריק פֿון באַנגלאַדעש דורכגייט טאַמיל נאַדו'ס ערשטע אַוואַנסירטע קאָכלעאַר™ נוקלעוס® נעקסאַ™ אימפּלאַנט כירורגיע אין אַפּאָלאָ טשעננאַי

In a landmark procedure on World Hearing Day (March 3, 2026), Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, successfully performed Tamil Nadu’s first Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ implant surgery on a nine-year-old girl from Bangladesh. Born with severe to profound hearing loss, she will now begin a structured post-operative program to optimize speech and language development.

Led by Dr. Venkatakarthikeyan C, Senior Consultant, ENT and Head & Neck Robotic Surgeon, the team employed the Cochlear Nucleus Nexa — the world’s first smart cochlear implant powered by the NEXOS™ chipset — positioning Apollo Children’s Hospitals among the early centres in India to offer this next-generation technology. This system supports firmware upgrades, allowing future improvements without additional surgery. Its advanced signal processing and stimulation technologies enhance sound clarity in challenging listening environments, supporting better speech recognition and communication.

In the coming weeks, the child will enter the next phase of treatment, during which the external sound processor will be activated and programmed to optimise hearing outcomes. She is recovering well and remains under careful clinical observation as part of the post-operative care protocol.

Dr. Venkatakarthikeyan emphasized, “Consistent access to sound through this future-ready technology can significantly aid a child’s speech, language, and cognitive development while fostering social engagement.”

Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO – Chennai Region, Apollo Hospitals, added, “This achievement reflects our commitment to delivering cutting-edge hearing solutions to children across India and neighbouring countries. We continue to invest in advanced technologies and multidisciplinary care to ensure the best long-term outcomes.”

The introduction of this technology expands treatment options for paediatric hearing loss in Tamil Nadu and surrounding regions, offering renewed hope for improved communication, academic progress, and overall quality of life.