In the first half of 2026, 169 children in Kazakhstan regained their hearing after receiving high-tech cochlear implants. Most of the surgeries were performed on children under five, and the government allocated 1.8 billion tenge for this purpose, according to infohub.kz.
According to the Ministry of Health, 124 of the total procedures were performed on children under five. It is at this age that auditory perception and speech are actively developing, so early detection of hearing impairments and timely treatment are crucial for a child's further development.
Cochlear implants are installed in cases of complete or very severe hearing loss, when conventional hearing aids no longer help. However, the surgery itself is only the beginning of a long journey.
About a month later, specialists activate and adjust the implanted device. After that, the longest and most difficult stage begins — teaching the child to perceive sounds and speak. Audiologists and educators work with the child, and parents are trained in special exercises so they can practice with their child daily at home.
For parents, early diagnosis should remain one of the key guidelines. If a child does not react to a voice, does not respond to familiar sounds, stops responding to being addressed, or shows significant delays in speech development, it is necessary to have their hearing checked and consult a specialist.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that the republic is changing its approach to restoring hearing and speech in children with cochlear implants. Instead of short one-time courses, the Ministry of Labor is introducing a system of continuous year-round support.