According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), over the past five years, affiliated cochlear implant centers (CICs) have performed 1997 surgeries, with 283 performed in the first half of this year (2022).
MOH highlighted the steady increase in the number of these surgeries from 223 in 2017 to 427 in 2021, underlying the qualitative development in the service, by reducing the average age of implants from four years in 2017 to a year and a half during the current year; as the proper age for cochlear implants to achieve the best results ranges between one and two years (or the so-called golden age of implant); to prevent hearing loss and its subsequent complications.
MOH has expanded the number of its CICs from five in 2018 to 15 centers, as part of its endeavors to provide services to beneficiaries.
These CICs detect hearing loss that affects newborns. The rate of infection reaches almost 4 per 1000 births out of the total number of births in the Kingdom (totaling about 600,000 births in one year, and those who need cochlear implant are about 0.25%).
MOH has taken various measures to early detect and treat the problem, such as linking its Cochlear Implant Program (CIP) with the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) Program, which is mandatory for all newborns in the Kingdom. The rate of newborn hearing screening reached more than 94% of all newborns, and the advanced audiology centers for newborns (totaling 23 specialized centers) are disseminated throughout the Kingdom in the current year, after it was only seven centers in some regions in 2018. Also, the number of specialized and accredited CICs increased from only five centers in 2018 to 15 centers in mid-2022.
It is worth mentioning that the hearing loss is due to unknown genetic causes or acquired causes that can be divided into two parts: The first section occurs during pregnancy, such as infection with some viral diseases [e.g. rubella (German measles), hypertension, diabetes, fetal growth restriction (FGR), or premature (also known as preterm) birth, or taking some medications that may affect the fetus]. The second section is related to congenital causes, such as lack of oxygen during childbirth (birth asphyxia), or to other diseases such as high levels of bilirubin (Hyperbilirubinemia). Some diseases can be prevented by means of controlling diabetes and hypertension, and avoiding contact with people, who are knowingly infected, during pregnancy. The treatment lies in cochlear implantation and aural rehabilitation (also called aural rehab or A.R.) programs afterwards. It is noted that the earlier the cochlear implant surgery was performed (i.e. during the first two years of the child's life), the better response and avoidance of side effects are achieved.