Medical team performs successful cochlear implant surgeries for infants

AMMAN — A medical team of the Royal Medical Services (RMS) has recently performed cochlear implant surgeries for several infants who are less than one year old, as part of HRH Crown Prince Hussein's “Hearing Without Borders” initiative, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday.

The children, before the surgeries, suffered from distortions in the structure of their cochlear, which made them lose the hearing sense.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hiari, head of the ear department at the RMS, said that the cochlear devices are characterised by their small sizes and are attached to the skull.

Hiari said the operations were conducted by the RMS in cooperation with the Saint-Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech, noting that a workshop was held at the Queen Rania Hospital for Children on cochlear implantation to exchange expertise with the institute.

A professor from the Russian institute praised the advanced level of RMS personnel’s experince in cochlear implants and rehabilitating patients after surgeries, according to Petra.

Families of infants expressed their appreciation for the Crown Prince, describing his initiative as a "gate of hope" that helps their children restore hearing.

Launching the initiative in December 2014, Crown Prince Hussein noted that some 300 children in Jordan are born with hearing disabilities every year and they need help to be able to hear and speak. 

He added that the chance for these children to hear and speak normally is great if there is adequate medical intervention before they are six years old.

According to the Crown Prince’s website, the vision behind the project is to “have a Jordan free from hearing disabilities, and the mission is to provide all support and assistance for the rehabilitation of deaf children who receive cochlear implants, to provide the needed language therapy and training for these children and to create community awareness on the cause of deafness”.