Hong Kong patient receives a cochlear implant at HKU Shenzhen Hospital

A 51-year-old Hong Kong patient with longstanding right-ear hearing loss received a cochlear implant at the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital. Four weeks after surgery, the device was activated and adjusted, and he entered an adaptation and training stage. He later told the team he could understand television news.

Five years of single-sided hearing difficulty

Mr Li, a pseudonym, developed sudden deafness in his right ear five years earlier. Treatment locally had brought no clear improvement. His left-ear hearing remained normal, but the single-sided loss made it difficult to locate sounds and distinguish speech in noisy surroundings.

The difficulties affected his daily work and social interactions. On a friend’s recommendation, he attended the hospital’s International Medical Center on January 28, 2026. Pure-tone threshold testing confirmed profound sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear.

Assessment, surgery and observation

After admission, the centre’s ear, nose and throat team completed hearing tests, imaging and an assessment of his general condition. A multidisciplinary consultation was held to develop his surgical plan.

Guan Yafeng’s team performed right-sided cochlear implantation on January 30. Afterwards, the International Medical Center’s nurses closely observed him, particularly for head discomfort. Li recalled some head pain when he woke and said staff remained nearby, repeatedly asking how he felt.

Activation and continuing rehabilitation

Four weeks after implantation, the team activated and programmed the right-ear device. Li began adapting to it and undertaking training, subsequently reporting that he could clearly follow the content of television news.

The hospital describes a broader cochlear-implant pathway involving ENT doctors and hearing specialists. They assess the cause and duration of hearing loss and the ear’s anatomy together, then plan the operation individually. Implantation uses minimally invasive techniques intended to protect delicate inner-ear structures.

After surgery, audiologists provide individual programming while following speech rehabilitation, linking the initial assessment, operation and recovery care.