Children Await Help: Why Cochlear Implantation Remains a Problem in Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, an estimated 50 to 60 newborns are diagnosed with hearing loss each year. Early detection and cochlear implantation are vital for children with severe hearing impairment, but the process is fraught with challenges, primarily financial.

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We were advised to get a cochlear implant. We didn't have the money at the time, so we asked for help from relatives, friends, and concerned citizens.

The journey for affected families is often arduous. Bayaman Choybekov and his wife discovered their eldest daughter had severe sensorineural hearing loss at 10 months old. After receiving a Grade I disability, they were advised to pursue cochlear implantation. Lacking the funds, they relied on support from relatives, friends, and the public.

In 2021, the family paid approximately $15,000 for a 2014 model implant in Tashkent, opting for a less advanced but more affordable option. Their daughter, now seven, has lived with the implant for five years. She attends kindergarten, works with a speech therapist, and is set to enter a regular school this year. Despite occasional curiosity from others about her implant, the family embraces their situation, focusing on their daughter's development and integration.

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The operation in Tashkent in 2021 cost us about $15,000, but we chose a 2014 production model implant instead of the latest generation, it was cheaper.

Cochlear implantation is a surgical procedure for severe to profound hearing loss. The system requires ongoing maintenance and timely replacement of the speech processor, typically every five years, at a cost of $10,000 or more. This recurring expense is prohibitive for many Kyrgyz families, leaving some children with implants from as early as 2011 unable to replace their processors.

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We initially found it difficult, but then we got used to the extra attention. We accept our burden and try to ensure our daughter can hear, develop, and study in school like all other children.