A specialized medical team at Alkafeel Hospital has successfully performed a cochlear implant surgery for a two-year-old girl from Baghdad, restoring her hearing and transforming her life.

Dr. Hisham Al-Moussawi, an otolaryngology (ENT) specialist at the hospital, explained that the child’s parents had not initially noticed any hearing issues. It was only after a nursery supervisor observed the child's lack of response to sounds that the concern was raised.

Following comprehensive diagnostic evaluations at Alkafeel Hospital, the child was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, attributed to a prenatal condition affecting the auditory system—likely resulting from an illness the mother experienced during pregnancy. Dr. Al-Moussawi and his team proceeded with cochlear implantation, which yielded excellent results and restored the child’s hearing, effectively transitioning her from a state of hearing impairment to normal auditory function.

Dr. Al-Moussawi emphasized the importance of post-operative speech rehabilitation, stating: “We always advise parents to follow up with speech therapy. If there are issues with speech development, it may indicate that the cochlear implant is not functioning optimally.”

He stressed that speech therapy is a vital second phase of treatment, enabling the child to comprehend and articulate words clearly. Dr. Al-Moussawi also advocated for mandatory newborn hearing screening in all hospitals to enable early detection and intervention—whether surgical or non-surgical.

He concluded by encouraging parents to seek evaluation at specialized hearing centers as soon as they notice any signs of hearing loss in their children, as early diagnosis plays a critical role in ensuring effective treatment and better long-term outcomes.