After conducting diagnostics, doctors determine the optimal strategy for the treatment and rehabilitation of children. In cases of partial hearing loss, hearing aids are prescribed, and a comprehensive rehabilitation program is organized. If a child is diagnosed with complete deafness, they are referred for cochlear implantation. Since 2018, such surgeries have been performed at the National Center for the Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, and thanks to support from Qatar, they are now free of charge. After the surgery, children require long-term rehabilitation under the supervision of specialists, as stated in the Ministry of Health's press release.
According to the agency's information, audiological screening is conducted in several maternity hospitals located in Bishkek, as well as in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Issyk-Kul regions.
Audiological screening of newborns in Kyrgyzstan. How the program works. Photo by the press service of the Ministry of Health.
According to experts, previously, hearing impairments in children were often detected only between the ages of three and six, which significantly limited the possibilities for effective treatment. However, the situation is gradually improving. In 2025, more than 30,000 newborns underwent screening.
According to global statistics, one to three children per thousand are born with hearing impairments. Considering that approximately 138,000 children are born in Kyrgyzstan each year, it can be estimated that between 130 and 300 newborns have congenital hearing pathologies. Therefore, early diagnosis becomes critically important: timely detection and proper rehabilitation provide children with the opportunity for full development and successful social integration.
