After two and a half years old, Ariana heard the voice of her mother for the first time. A few months ago, she was diagnosed with bilateral profound deafness. Today, the girl is one of the two benefited by the cochlear implant, which is placed in the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca*, in the State of Mexico, belonging to Mexico´s Ministry of Health, leaded by doctor Mercedes Juan.
The grandmother of the girl, Mrs. Heriberta Luciano Cruz, explained that in Toluca´s General Hospital "Dr. Nicholas San Juan", in Mexico as well, doctors made a small hearing screening test, with which the girl diagnosed with profound hearing loss. "We were sent to the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca where doctors assured they would help my granddaughter to hear, and they did."
At a press conference, Dr. Marisol Aparicio Cruz, Audiologist of this hospital, accompanied by Drs Diana Rivero Mendez, otolaryngologist and Sara Hernandez Aviles, Audiologist of the Health Institute of the State of Mexico (ISEM) as well as the familliars of Ariana, explained that the child was sent to the institution for care.
Nearly four months after surgery, Ariana progresses satisfactorily to the treatment and expects that in two and a half years, the girl will talk normally.
Ariana is the first case of implant performed in the State of Mexico with resources of the Popular Insurance, and she receives language development therapies in Toluca´s General Hospital.
Aparicio Cruz said that with the joint efforts of the health instances are provided efficient health services and human warmth that meet a commitment to the public welfare.
After analyzing the situation of Ariana, she indicated, the multidisciplinary team composed of specialists in otolaryngology, audiology, psychology and social work and nursing, among others, determined to submit the girl to surgery.
Last August they placed her the internal components that consisted in a set of tiny electrodes that send electrical signals to the auditory nerve, which carries sound to the brain where it hears.
On September 15, they implanted the external components, which are made up of microphone, cable, satellite broadcaster and BTE processor.
Through them, the signs to the electrode assembly (internal components) placed in the inner ear are sent.
The cochlear implant is an electronic high-tech device that transforms acoustic signals into electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve, and are used in patients with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
During the period January-September 2015, the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca has served by different diseases to 855 to 3000 users, who are affiliated to the Popular Insurance program.
In July 2014, the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca obtained the accreditation for Cochlear Implant.
In her turn, Dr. Sara Hernandez Aviles, attached to ISEM Audiology Service, reported that in Mexico every year one in three births presents profound hearing loss, due to ear infections and prematurity births, mainly.
She reported that in the 39 hospitals of the State of Mexico, neonatal hearing screening and early intervention are done to infants to detect and treat different cases of deafness. However, High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca is the only hospital, where cochlear implants are performed.
In her message, Getsemani Plata Luciano, the girl's mother, thanked for the intervention of doctors of both hospitals from the Health Ministry, which allowed her daughter to hear for the first time.
Currently, the team of the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca in Cochlear Implant, works with the Center for Computing Research (CIC), the Laboratory of Microtechnology and Embedded Systems of the National Institute Polytechnic (IPN by its initials in Spanish) from Mexico, in a joint research project to develop a prototype of a cochlear implant.
With a modern infrastructure, technology and, above all, attention to the poorest population in the east of the State of Mexico, the Regional High Specialty Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI by its initials in Spanish), is one of the largest in the state.
Located in the most populated states of Mexico, the HRAEI is the only one of the 39 hospitals that exist in the State of Mexico where the cochlear implant is performed in cases of profound deafness.
Uses spaces with equipment and latest technology, such as: Linear Accelerator, Imaging Services, Hemodynamics Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine, Endoscopy, Hemodialysis, Oncology, Rehabilitation hospital and pharmacy, among others.
It provides universal medical care priority to vulnerable groups, through a set of 64 clinical and surgical specialties and subspecialties, which are distributed in surgical medical areas, medical clinics, as well as auxiliary diagnostic and treatment.
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