Six-year-old girl regained hearing through cochlear implant, now qualifies to perform same surgery
Published: September 12, 2026 10:29 AM IST
Updated: September 12, 2026 10:57 AM IST
Dr Rizwana’s inspiring story of overcoming her hearing impairment has been recognised globally, including by the World Health Organisation.
Fourteen years ago, six-year-old Rizwana’s world was silent, threatened by a profound hearing impairment that threatened to shut her out of the world of sound. Today, she is Dr P V Rizwana, an accomplished Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist who has just achieved a historic milestone: qualifying to perform the very same complex cochlear implant surgery that once restored her hearing.
A life-changing state initiative
Born to Abdul Rasheed and Sabitha in Mannancherry, Alappuzha, Rizwana’s path was forever altered when she became one of the early beneficiaries of the Kerala government’s path-breaking ‘Sruthitharangam’ scheme. Launched under the Oommen Chandy-led administration and implemented by the Social Justice Department under M K Muneer’s leadership, the project aimed to address childhood hearing loss by funding expensive cochlear implants for underprivileged children.
From silence to surgery
Rizwana underwent her life-changing surgery at the Manoj ENT Clinic in Kozhikode, performed by the renowned specialist Dr M P Manoj. The procedure was a resounding success, and at just six years old, she was ushered back into a world of sound and speech. This pivotal moment did more than just heal her; it planted the seed for a remarkable medical career.
Closing the circle of care
Driven by her childhood experience, Rizwana worked tirelessly to enter the medical profession. She earned her MBBS from Kottayam Medical College and chose to specialise in ENT for her postgraduate studies. Now that she has completed her advanced training, she has earned the credentials to perform cochlear implant surgeries herself, transforming from a grateful patient into a healer.
Global recognition for an extraordinary journey
Her unique and inspiring story has already gained international acclaim. On World Hearing Day 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) featured Dr Rizwana on its official website as a global face of triumph over hearing impairment. As she prepares to step into the operating theatre as the lead surgeon, Dr Rizwana stands as a living testament to the transformative power of accessible healthcare and sheer human determination.
What is cochlear surgery?
According to the Mayo Clinic, cochlear implant surgery is a procedure that places a small electrical device in the inner part of a person’s ear, replacing their damaged ear parts. It is a one- to three-hour outpatient operation under general anaesthesia. It is considered a very complex process because the facial nerve, ‘cranial nerve VII,’ which helps move a person’s face, sits right next to a microscopic corridor a surgeon carves through the bones of the skull for a safe mechanical route from behind the ear, as part of the cochlear implant surgery. Even an accidental touch to the nerve can apparently cause facial weakness.