MERF Press Releases

A 15 year old boy swallowed a board pin leading to severe pneumonia. Doctors at Madras ENT Research Foundation removed the pin using a fibre optic bronchoscope as any other procedure would have worsened the conditio

The Institute of Child Health Egmore launched on Children’s Day a scheme to screen all newborns for hearing defects. Specialists from Madras ENT Research Institute along with ‘silent melody trust’ (an initiative by Dr Mohan Kameswaran) will provide the equipments and will screen high risk newborns for deafness.

The Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu and Madras ENT Research Foundation conducted 5 day screening cum diagnostic program wherein Down Syndrome children where screened for hearing and speech problems. A team of specialists from UK assisted them in this venture. Importance of the program lies in the fact that substantial proportion of Down Syndrome children suffer from these difficulties.

An article referring about a patient suffering from neurofibamatosis, a nerve tissue disorder. It affects auditory nerves also leading to deafness. She was treated by ‘brainstem implant’. Similar surgery was performed by Dr Mohan Kameswaran in December 2005 for the first time in South East Asia.

Dr Mohan Kameswaran, Director, MERF introduces a totally invisible hearing device named “Envoy Esteem” using micro ear surgery. It is the first of its kind in South East Asia and Asia Pacific Region (including Japan and Australia). The user can adjust the device for their comfort at home while using telephone, or at crowded restaurant or in a noisy street.

Maruti Van was donated by district Governor of Rotary for the successful completion of “Silent Melody” project.

State bank of India donating Mobile ENT Unit keys to Dr .Mohan Kameswaran. The unit reaches out to people of rural Tamil Nadu, to diagnose ENT problems prevalent in them and bring them to MERF for management.

Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari felicitating Dr Mohan Kameswaran with the degree of “Doctor of Science” (Honor Causa) for contribution in the field of ENT.

Prof Mohan Kameswaran received the Fellowship of The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS).
He was also awarded “Padmashree” by President of India in 2006.

Prof Mohan Kameswaran performed cochlear implant surgery at Vishakhapatnam. It was for the first
time a surgery of this kind has been performed in Andhra Pradesh.

Prof Mohan Kameswaran started ‘Silent Melody Charitable Trust’ along with Rotary club, Chennai.

Silent Melody Charitable Trust Launched jointly by Dr Mohan Kameswaran, MERF and Rotary club, Chennai to screen for neonatal hearing impairment.
It is an extension of Silent Melody Project which was launched last year in July.

Voice Lab at MERF, started by Prof Mohan Kameswaran. Voice related disorders can be diagnosed and treated using a videostroboscope. Patients suffering from hoarseness and other long standing voice related problems can avail such facilities. Other state of art facilities in MERF include Sleep Lab and Cochlear Implantation.

Launch of “Mobile ENT Unit” from MERF, headed by Prof Mohan Kameswaran. Aim of the unit is to visit rural areas and diagnose common ENT problems especially hearing disorders among children.

Dr Mohan Kameswaran starts MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (MERF-ISH) in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Open University and is recognized by Rehabilitation Council of India. It offers 3 years full time course and 1 year training programme in Bachelors in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.

Dr Mohan Kameswaran, Founder Director of MERF appointed to the Board of Governors of the Asia Pacific Forum of Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences.

MERF, headed by Dr Mohan Kameswaran has facilities of sleep study for diagnosing problems leading to snoring and sleep apnea. MERF conducts approximately 15 sleep studies per month. Medical management like CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure and surgical treatment like lasers, radiofrequency and faciomaxillary surgery are available for the same at MERF

MERF has used ‘Balloon Sinuplasty’ for the first time in the country as a bloodless surgery for cure for sinusitis. Balloon sinuplasty surgery technique introduced by MERF is the first of its kind in South East Asia and involves use of balloon sinus dilatation system which widens the natural opening of the paranasal sinuses by endoscopic approach. This method preserves most of the natural anatomy and the function of nose and is virtually painless and bloodless compared to conventional endoscopic approach.

The Hindustan Times: Madras ENT Research Foundation headed by Dr Mohan Kameswaran.

First to introduce KTP Laser 532 in the country. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi.
First institute to introduce contour cochlear implant in Asia.
First to introduce Sleep lab and Voice lab.

The Hindu, Sunday, December 23, 2001
In Chennai Today
Madras ENT Research Foundation: Justice Mr.K.S. Bhaktavatsalam inaugurates Voice laboratory.

News Today, Saturday, 9 February, 2002
New technology rings in good news to hearing impaired
Dr.Mohan Kameswaran operated on Ameen, a 9 year old boy and Muthunayaka, a 42 year old Sri Lankan national using the latest generation Cochlear Implant speech processor Espirit 3G which was launched for the first time in a few select countries worldwide.

City Express, Chennai, Monday, December 23, 2002
New unit for infants with hearing disability
An Upgraded Audiology unit that can measure hearing loss even in neonates and infants was inaugurated at Madras ENT Research Foundation.

The Hindu, Chennai, Thursday, January 8, 2004
Throat trouble
Dr. Mohan Kameswaran said the Voice Lab can aid in the early detection of vocal cord disorders. Basically the voice lab cares for the professional voice, preserves and strengthens it.

Daily News, October 15, 2004
Cochlear first hearing Implant in Sri Lanka
On last fullmoon Poya day (September 28) the first Cochlear implant operation in Sri Lanka was done at Colombo Apollo Hospital on Lalith Gunawardena the Asst. Director of national Archives Department by ENT surgeons Dr.Devendra Jha of Colombo Apollo and Dr.Mohan Kameswaran who was flown from India for the operation.

The Hindu, Wednesday, October 27, 2004
National meet on cochlear implant
The 2nd National Conference of the Cochlear Implant Group of India organized by its President Dr.Mohan Kameswaran, was held at Chennai. The conference focused on training in Cochlear Implant surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation.

The Hindu, Thursday, January 13, 2005
The sound of music
The first Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) procedure was performed in Chennai for Jayalakshmi, a 15 year old girl, the first such in South Asia and South East Asia, at Madras ENT Research Foundation. The patient, a school student, had bilateral acoustic tumors (tumors in the nerve connecting the ear with the brain). Jayalakshmi lost her hearing on both sides. After removal of the tumor on the second side, an electronic chip called the Auditory Brainstem Implant was placed in the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem by an intricate surgical procedure to restore her hearing.

The Hindu, Sunday, January 16, 2005
Health Watch
Vertigo and earthquakes
Dr.Mohan Kameswaran explains why people feel dizzy after an earthquake. Powerful low frequency stimulation of the labyrinth due to the earthquake results in vertigo.

The Hindu, Sunday, Jan 30, 2005
Happy transition to the world of sound
About 100 cochlear implantees, operated on by Dr.Mohan kameswaran and his team at MERF gathered in the city to thank the man who had introduced them to the world of sound.. Begun in 1997, the cochlear implant programme of MERF completed 100 surgeries earlier this month.

The Hindu, Wednesday, May 11, 2005
New cochlear implant picks up even whispers
It offers near-normal hearing
A new generation cochlear implant that restores near-normal hearing was implanted in two children with congenital hearing loss at a Chennai hospital on Monday, marking the device’s debut in Asia. The nucleus Freedom, developed by the Cochlear Corporation of Australia, was implanted in Gokul (2) and Aditya (6) at Madras ENT Research Foundation, only months after the FDA approved device was launched in the U.S.

With the New Indian Express
City Express
Chennai, Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Anna University student gets back hearing after five years
A farmer’s son, Senthil, was able to hear for the first time in five years, thanks to cochlear implantation surgery which he underwent at Madras ENT Research Foundation. He had never thought that he woud get back his hearing that he lost when he was 15. The surgery and one-year rehabilitation programme, which costs Rs. 95,000, were offered free by the hospital.

News Today, Chennai, Monday, August 1, 2005
Helping the poor access better health care
Since the inception of Madras ENT Research Foundation Charitable Trust (MERFCT), its activities have been aimed at restoration of hearing and providing medical service to the needy. The Trust conducted various free surgeries and extended financial assistance of Rs. 9 lakhs to a 15-yr old girl for Auditory Brainstem Implantation. MERF conducts free ENT detection and screening camps in various parts of the state such as Kancheepuram, Kanyakumari, Thiruvallur, Walajapet, Vathlagundu and Manavalanagar. MERF also renders free ENT service to a town called Pothaturpet, 15 kms from Tirruttani. On 9th July, a hearing screening camp was conducted at MERF and free hearing aids were sponsored for over 200 patients.

Padham Health News, October 1, 2005
Less Noise Please
Noise has become the most common yet preventable cause of hearing loss. Noise is hazardous to health. By appropriate awareness programmes and strict enforcement laws, the harmful effects of noise can be prevented or mitigated. This is the hallmark of a responsible, caring society, said Dr. Mohan Kameswaran.

City Express (with the New Indian Express), Chennai, Wednesday, December 7, 2005
The baby, a disease and a milestone surgery
Mohammed Syed Abrar is making up for lost time. Through out a press meet to announce the 150th Cochlear Implant to correct profound bilateral deafness by Madras ENT Research Foundation (MERF), the toddler was gurgling and cooing to all around him.

The Hindu, Thursday, April 27, 2006
Rotary Awards for two doctors
The Rotary Club of Madras Esplanade awarded “For the sake of Honour Award” to Dr.Mohan Kameswaran who is known for introducing advanced technology of Cochlear Implantation in the field of ENT.

The Hindu, May 22, 2006 (Trichy Edition)
Early detection of hearing disability essential
Early detection of hearing disability among children will go a long way in bringing down the number of deaf and dumb persons across the country, said Dr.Mohan Kameswaran, noted ENT specialist and Managing Director, Madras ENT Research Foundation, Chennai. He delivered the “Dr. G. Viswanathan Memorial Oration” on “Auditory Neural Prosthesis – a window to the future”, sponsored by the Tiruchi Branch of the Indian Medical Association.

News Today, Chennai, Tuesday, 20 June, 2006
Medical colleges to tie up with hospitals
Medical Colleges belonging to the Armed Forces will soon collaborate with other hospitals, one of which is Madras ENT Research Foundation (MERF) for research in cochlear implants, said Vice Admiral V.K.Singh, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services. He was talking during the inauguration of “International Update on the current status of ENT” organized by MERF.

The Hindu, Chennai, Saturday, July 15, 2006
MOU signed for offering 4-year degree course in Audiology
Madras ENT Research Foundation – Institute of Speech and Hearing (MERFISH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rehabilitation Council of India and Tamil Nadu Open University to offer a Bachelor’s degree course in Audiology.

News Today, Chennai, September 9, 2006
Clinic to treat speech disorder
NT Bureau
The disorder of stammering occurs in nearly 1% of the Indian population. Stammering can be cured with professional assistance. The clinic aims to provide specialized and individualized therapy programmes for people with stammering so that they can get back to normal life with ease and also excel in their respective fields, said Dr.Mohan Kameswaran, Managing Director, Madras ENT Research Foundation..

The Hindu, Chennai, Saturday, October 7, 2006
Rare Surgery
Doctors widen narrowed windpipe in Pakistani boy
Three-year old Hassan from Pakistan was breathing through a tube until a month ago, before he came to Chennai for treatment. He will return home shortly breathing normally like any other child after a rare surgery was performed to widen his windpipe. Hassan was suffering from a narrowed windpipe below the larynx since his birth – a condition called congenital subglottic stenosis, which is both rare and difficult to treat in children. A team of eight doctors from Madras ENT Research Foundation were involved in correcting the airway problem. The doctors transposed a one-inch-long rib cartilage to widen the windpipe and stabilized it by placing a stent in a two-and-a-half hour surgery on August 25. After a month, the stent was removed and a sophisticated laser was used to clear the outgrowth of granulation tissue. The result: Hassan does not have to depend on a tube to breathe any longer. Hassan recently celebrated his third birthday in the hospital - something special for him as it was the first without a tube around his neck.

City Express (With the New Indian Express), Chennai, Saturday, Nov 4, 2006
MERF completes 200 cochlear implants
Cochlear Implant helps a person with hearing problems to integrate with society with much more ease, said many people who underwent this procedure. Participating in the 200th implant celebration of the Madras ENT Research Foundation, they explained how life took a sharp turn after they underwent cochlear implantation.

Business Today, Sri Lanka, November 2006
Business Notebook
Presidential Honours
Prof. Mohan Kameswaran has been honoured by President Mahinda Rajapakse for helping to transfer the technology to start the Cochlear Implant programme with J.M Wickramarachchi and Company together with Nucleus Cochlear, Australia.

Vijay Times, City Mangalore, Saturday, 16 December 2006
ENT academic, clinical areas need immediate attention
Tributes were paid to Late K.Bhujanga Rao whose memorial endowment lecture on “Cochlear implants – present and future” was delivered by Madras ENT Research Foundation (MERF), Chennai director Padmashree Dr.Mohan Kameswaran. In his lecture Kameswaran observed that cochlear implants are electronic devices designed to detect mechanical sound energy and convert it into electrical signals that can be delivered to the cochlear nerve, bypassing the damaged hair cells of the cochlea. The implant can be considered monumental because it represents the most successful attempt to date, to interface a prosthetic device with the nervous system.