Making Hearing Possible Through Path-Breaking Surgeries With Dr. Shree Rao

A patient who lost hearing after severe brain infection has regained the ability to hear, thanks to a complex and path breaking cochlear implantation surgery by Dr. Shree Rao, Ear Surgeon and Director, Dr. Rao’s ENT Hospitals. This success story adds to Dr. Shree Rao’s growing list of lives transformed through ear and cochlear implant surgeries marking another step towards her mission of #IndiaHearswithDrShreeRao

This recent case presented multiple medical challenges, the patient had developed meningitis during a dengue fever infection, leading to low platelet count. To make things further complicated, the patient went into a week long coma and had an infection in the cerebro spinal fluid. This resulted in hardening of the inner ear which makes hearing restoration nearly impossible. 

“The bone ossification filled up one of the ears completely making it impossible to restore hearing on the ear. Luckily the second ear was only partially affected and though it was a complicated scenario, we believed there was still hope for restoring some amount of hearing”, Dr. Shree Rao explains. Using a specialized shortened electrode, Dr. Shree and her team achieved what seemed to be impossible. The patient can now perceive sounds and understand speech when combined with lip reading. 

Training Tomorrow’s Surgeons

Beyond individual patient care, Dr. Shree Rao leads surgical training workshops through Hyderabad ENT Research Foundation. “To build a nation of healthy hearing, we need a team of empathetic and skilled ear surgeons. Our workshops help spread the knowledge we have gained and impact many more lives in the years to come”, says Dr. Shree Rao. Her workshops attract ENT surgeons from India and abroad, who share her passion for ear health. 

"Each surgeon we train extends our reach," she says. "When these doctors return to their communities, they bring advanced surgical skills to patients who might otherwise never receive such care." 

Understanding Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants represent a significant advancement in hearing restoration technology. These electronic devices bypass damaged parts of the inner ear, directly stimulating the hearing nerve. Unlike hearing aids that make sound louder, cochlear implants do the work of the damaged parts of the ear providing sound signals directly to the brain. Dr. Shree Rao’s expertise in the field of cochlear implants has helped patients ranging from young children to adults help regain their connection to the world of sound.

Dr. Shree Rao and team provide comprehensive heading assessments, surgical solutions and empathetic post-operative care which help patients and families adapt to their new hearing capabilities. This comprehensive care model ensures that patients receive support throughout their hearing restoration journey. 

Looking into the future

Dr. Shree Rao’s vision for #IndiaHearswithDrShreeRao combines surgical innovation with accessibility and empathy. Her success with complex cases demonstrates that with advances in hearing care, we have the opportunity to transform lives even in challenging medical situations. “Every patient deserves a chance at better hearing,” Dr. Shree Rao emphasizes. “Our goal is to make these advanced treatments available to more people while building the next generation of ear surgeons.”