Kolkata, 26 February 2026: Neotia Bhagirathi Woman and Child Care Centre has strengthened its paediatric specialty services with the launch of a state-of-the-art Hearing Loss & Cochlear Implant (CI) Clinic at its Paediatric Multispecialty Hospital in New Town. The initiative is aimed at enabling early detection and timely intervention for neonatal and childhood hearing impairment across Eastern India.
With the introduction of its dedicated Hearing Loss & Cochlear Implant Unit, the hospital seeks to ensure intervention within the critical 1–6 month therapeutic window, significantly reducing delays in neonatal cochlear implantation. The clinic aligns with the globally recommended “1-3-6” Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) protocol — screening by one month of age, diagnostic confirmation by three months for infants who do not pass the screening, and appropriate intervention by six months.
Congenital hearing impairment remains one of the most common sensory disorders identified in newborns and can only be diagnosed after birth through structured screening procedures. Recognising this, the hospital has already instituted mandatory neonatal hearing and vision screening for all babies delivered at the facility. The newly launched clinic builds upon this preventive care framework, offering comprehensive evaluation and seamless intervention under one roof.
Medical experts highlight that untreated hearing loss during early infancy can adversely impact speech development, language acquisition, cognitive growth, and school readiness. Early auditory stimulation is crucial, as delayed treatment may lead to irreversible cortical auditory deprivation. For children diagnosed with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who derive limited benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implantation remains the most effective rehabilitative solution.
The clinic provides a multidisciplinary, end-to-end care pathway that integrates neonatology support, paediatric audiology, advanced imaging, surgical expertise, auditory-verbal therapy, and long-term rehabilitation services.
Dr. Indrani Subramanian, Facility Director, said, “The launch of our dedicated Hearing Loss & Cochlear Implant Clinic reflects our commitment to strengthening essential specialties such as ENT. Through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, each child is comprehensively evaluated to determine the most appropriate treatment — ensuring transparency, precision, and patient-centric care.”
Dr. Sanchari Nandi, Consultant ENT Surgeon, added, “Early detection and structured intervention significantly improve speech and developmental outcomes. A clearly defined pathway — from screening and hearing aid trials to imaging, surgery, and long-term Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) — enhances rehabilitation success in children with hearing impairment.”
With this expansion, Neotia Bhagirathi Woman and Child Care Centre reinforces its commitment to child-centric, comprehensive healthcare — supporting improved speech, language, and overall developmental outcomes from birth onward.
