P.D Hinduja Hospital anchored the 8th Cochlear Implant workshop. The workshop was attented by 35 doctors, 20 audiologists, 15 therapists (from all over India) and students. The workshop aimed at providing essential information about cochlear implants and help professionals to enhance their skill-set for such surgeries. Over the past 7 years Dr. Millind Kirtane, has trained over 100 surgeons through these workshops and helped many of them establish their own cochlear implant programs, including general hospitals like KEM, Nair and Sion Hospital.

Dr Kirtane, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Hinduja Hospita,l who spearheaded the workshop has an experience of more than four decades as ENT surgeon. He himself has conducted about 5ooo cochlear implants operations till date, and has been imparting education and training to juniors. Hinduja hospital has been a pioneer in conducting cochlear implants and does more than 100 implants now every year.

A hearing disability can strike at any age and for any reason. In severe to profound deafness where hearing aids fail to help the patient, cochlear implant can help significantly. In new-borns hearing disability can be identified very early, and so it is imprtant that there are trained professionals who can diagnose problems early.

Speaking on this occasion Dr. Kirtane said, "The number of cases reported has increased manifold in the last three years, which is a result of awareness among the common man. Hence our objective of this workshop is to ensure we train professionals so that they can augment their skills and work towards providing better healthcare facilities to patient in even remote parts of India." The success of cochlear implant case not only depends on the surgery performed, but also on the therapist and audiologists efforts on the case. Typically the therapists and audiologists work with the patient for 2-3 years post surgery.