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Specialist comes to Louis Otieno's rescue
The former TV anchor lost his hearing under unclear circumstances.
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Mr Machari who is a specialist in Ear Nose and Throat treatment has offered to perform surgery on Louis Otieno.
Otieno, who lost his hearing under unclear circumstances, has been seeking funds to aid him get a delicate surgery in his inner ear and a cochlear implant so he can hear once again.
Despite Prof Muthure being ready to perform a surgery on the former TV Personality, he advised that the procedure would still be expensive.
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According to the Specialist who has been in the field of doing cochlear implants for the past four years, they have not been able to handle so many patients due to the cost involved.
“We haven’t done as many patients as we would have wanted, but that's mainly because of the cost barrier,” said Muthure
Otieno has profound hearing loss in the right ear and severe hearing loss in the left. He has previously made three attempts to use different types of hearing aids but none worked, leaving only the option of the cochlear implant.
In his effort to help Otieno regain his hearing, Macahria has already examined him to evaluate what is supposed to be done.
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“A cochlear implant is a journey. The cochlear team - comprising the ENT surgeon, the audiologist and the speech therapist - will meet with him. All of us will assess him and prepare him for the next stage,” explained the specialist.
Prof Macharia also explained that Otieno will spend four days in Hospital followed by a four week wait for “Switch on”.
"Otieno will also meet other beneficiaries of cochlear implants. “During switch-on, the external part of the implant is attached and the implant can now start working. You don’t start hearing immediately after the surgery,” said the surgeon.
"This is a process that is like reminding him what speech sounds like so that he is able to converse once again. This entire process could take at least one year," he explained.
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Otieno welcomed the news that he would not have to travel abroad for treatment.
However, Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo is leading the way and had revealed that several Members of Parliament are concerned with Otieno’s wellbeing and are in the process of getting him assistance.
“Our attention has been brought to the plight of Louis Otieno, who was a top media personality in Kenya and we want to say that as concerned Members of Parliament that we are going to support him in whichever little way we can, so we are going to start an initiative to help the family and his friends who have come out to help,” said Odhiambo.
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