Hearing device implantation surgery made in Almaty

Surgeons have implanted a hearing devices in Almaty, Tengrinews.kz reports. Professor of Vilnius Medical University Yevgenius Lisinskas lead the team of surgeons in the implantation surgery in the Central Clinical Hospital in Almaty. The implant is an more advanced replacement of traditional external hearing devices that, according to the doctors, have several disadvantages: they cause inflammatory diseases, eczema and deformations in the attachment area. The implant is place under the patient's skin behind the ear. Its wire goes to the middle ear and the ear bones. The microphone is located outside. The battery of the microphone can be replaced without a doctors’ help. According to the head of ENT department Almas Amangaliyev, the device has a good sound quality, and does not make any noise, which is a common problem of the external devices. The implant is tuned via a computer one month after the surgery. The device costs $9-11 thousand, the doctor added. It is made in Austria. This surgery was held free of charge as part of the state-funded quota. The patient is a 67-y.o. music teacher. His hearing went down because of a chronic otitis. The previous surgery in Germany did not give any positive results and the man had to use a hearing device. The surgery in Almaty was held under general anesthesia. According to the doctor, the musician will be able to fully use the device in one month's time. These type of hearing implants have been in use in Europe since 1996. They have been implanted to seven patients in Kazakhstan so far. Five surgeries were held in Astana and another two in Almaty. By Dmitriy Khegai