9-Year-Old from Bangladesh Gets Advanced Cochlear Nexa Implant Surgery, Chennai

Chennai: Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai has carried out Tamil Nadu’s first Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ implant surgery, introducing a new advancement in hearing care in the state. The procedure, performed on World Hearing Day (3 March), was led by Dr. Venkatakarthikeyan C, placing the hospital among the early centres in India to use this next-generation cochlear implant technology.

The surgery was performed on a nine-year-old girl from Bangladesh, who travelled to Chennai specifically for treatment, reflecting the hospital’s growing recognition in paediatric hearing care. The child had been living with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears since birth, along with significant speech and language impairment.

In the coming weeks, the child will enter the next stage of treatment, during which the external sound processor will be activated and programmed to enhance hearing outcomes. She is currently recovering well and remains under close medical observation as part of the post-operative care plan.

The Cochlear Nucleus Nexa is the world’s first smart cochlear implant system powered by the NEXOS™ chipset. It allows firmware upgrades, enabling patients to benefit from future software improvements without requiring additional surgery.

The system also includes advanced signal processing and stimulation technologies designed to improve sound clarity, particularly in challenging listening environments such as classrooms and group conversations. This can support better speech recognition and communication abilities.

Speaking about the development, Dr. Venkatakarthikeyan C, Senior Consultant, ENT and Head & Neck Robotic Surgeon at Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, said, “For children, consistent access to sound through this smart and future-ready technology can significantly support speech and language development, improve academic performance, encourage social interaction, and aid the development of the brain’s auditory pathways.

Our focus is on combining advanced medical technology with structured rehabilitation and comprehensive post-operative care to deliver the best possible long-term outcomes.”

Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, Chief Executive Officer – Chennai Region, Apollo Hospitals, added, “This successful procedure highlights our commitment to offering advanced hearing solutions.

We aim to make cutting-edge care accessible to children across India and neighbouring countries. Apollo Hospitals continues to strengthen its clinical capabilities, invest in next-generation technologies, and build multidisciplinary expertise to provide comprehensive, child-focused care.”

The introduction of this technology is expected to broaden treatment options for children with hearing loss in Tamil Nadu and surrounding regions, offering improved opportunities for hearing, communication, and overall quality of life.