Frequently Asked Questions

A Cochlear Implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that goes around the damaged sections of the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve, providing sound to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. In comparison to a regular hearing aid, which only amplifies sound and makes it audible to hearing impaired, a cochlear implant converts sound into electric current which directly stimulates the hearing nerve, leading to natural perception of sound by brain. It is the preferred hearing solution when hearing aids do not provide adequate sound perception and understanding of speech.

With the professional guidance of Dr. Shashank Vashist, patients are treated with such complex disorders as profound sensorineural hearing loss, chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma and perforated eardrums. He is also an expert in complex cases of the middle ear, the lateral skull base. His specialisation lies in restoring the auditory function and curing chronic ear infections which could not be treated by conventional medical means, using highly specialised surgical procedures with more than 500 successful surgeries.

Cochlear Implantation is advisable as early as nine months for infants who are diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss, since it is important to ensure that infants are exposed to sound early in life leading to neural and brain development for speech development. In adults, it is recommended in cases of sensorineural deafness who do not receive adequate benefit even with the use of powerful hearing aids. Dr. Vashist considers comprehensive hearing assessment and accurate imaging to decide the best available treatment option for effective restoration of sound leading to better quality of life.

Skull Base Surgery is a surgical discipline that is applied to address disease pathology such as tumours/ infections or treat Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leaks at the site of the brain and nasal cavity interface. Dr. Vashist explores the anterior skull base with the help of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures without any external incisions. In this technique, the growths can be removed precisely, and the leaks can be closed using tissue grafts, which would guarantee a quick healing process and minimal impact on the surrounding brain tissue.

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is an operation to treat advanced sinus conditions by the use of thin light endoscopes to clear the blocked sinuses in the nose. This is done to provide natural sinus ventilation and drainage, which is lost due to allergic polyps, infection, scar tissue, fracture bony fragments leading to chronic sinusitis. It is a minimally invasive procedure that fastens surgical recovery allowing patients to breathe freely earlier than conventional, more invasive, open face surgeries which sometimes lead extensive external scars.

Chronic vertigo or balance-related problem is a disabling condition where patients experience persistent spinning sensations, dizziness, or instability that disrupts usual everyday activity. Balance disorders may be caused by inner ear infection, BPPV, and neurological factors; hence, a specialist such as Dr. Vashist employs modern state of the art diagnostic equipment to identify the cause. The first steps should be taken to avoid falls and create a specific rehabilitation program to recover the feeling of balance in the patient.

Coblation technology is used to treat pediatric diseases such as enlarged adenoids and tonsils, in which low-temperature radiofrequency energy is applied to soften or melt the tissue. Coblation reduces damage to surrounding healthy tissue as opposed to traditional surgery, which involves heat or blades, resulting in significantly reduced blood loss, post-operative pain and quicker healing. This form of cold ablation is very effective in alleviating snoring and breathing problems, due to obstruction of air passage tissues in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and pathological snoring.

Laser Surgery is very crucial when it comes to the treatment of delicate conditions of the larynx like vocal cord polyps, nodules, scar tissues or early cancers. When Dr. Vashist uses the laser, the precision of the laser is high, enabling him to remove or vaporise diseased tissue without affecting the quality of the voice of the patient by maintaing integrity of the vocal cords. It is also a bloodless, minimally invasive process that tends to eliminate the need for external incisions, shortening hospitalisation and ensuring faster return to normal speech.

Head, neck, and salivary gland tumours are diagnosed by clinical evaluation, superior imaging such as MRI or CT and biopsies. Dr. Vashist treats these conditions with minimally invasive surgeries such as parotidectomies or thyroidectomies etc thereby saving the important nerves and blood vessels. His holistic treatment of the matter guarantees that the oncological excision of the tumour and the functional reconstruction of the affected region are both addressed simultaneously with the necessary surgical skill set.

Persistent snoring, obstructive sleep apnea or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) will require the consultation of a special ENT surgeon, such as Dr. Shashank Vashist. These symptoms normally reflect structural barriers in the upper airway or throat. Dr. Vashist applies diagnostic methods such as Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) to determine the precise cause of obstruction or constriction to implement a specific surgical or therapeutic procedure to enhance breathing, quality of sleep and safety of swallowing.

When the eardrum is perforated, Dr Vashist performs a procedure known as Micro-Ear Surgery (Tympanoplasty) to repair the perforation and restore hearing. He very carefully seals the perforation using a high-definition surgical microscope and a piece of patient’s tissue graft. This given procedure not only prevents the recurrence of the infection due to the absence of water and bacteria in the middle ear but also restores the sound-conducting system, greatly enhancing the patient's overall hearing and ear health.

In Ghaziabad, ENT services 24/7 and the services of advanced Cochlear Implantation can be offered to families in the Yashoda Medicity Indirapuram. Being a top-tier 1,200-bed quaternary care hospital, it has a dedicated department that is led by various specialists, such as Dr. Shashank Vashist. The facility boasts of the latest diagnostic laboratories and modular operation theatres, which means that both the children and the adult patients are accorded instant, state-of the-art treatment on hearing loss, trauma, or emergency ear and throat conditions.