Cochlear implants

Evidence suggests that cochlear implants can benefit severely to profoundly deaf children and NDCS supports families who have made an informed choice for this option. 

Yet many children experience unacceptably long delays to be fitted with an implant in one ear, whilst implants in both ears are still very rare. NDCS campaigns for cochlear implants to be made available for all families who choose this option and whose children will benefit. 

28 January 2009
NDCS has achieved a major campaign victory with the publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance today on cochlear implants. This report states that cochlear implants should be more widely available in England and Wales. This follows an extensive review over several years and strong resistance from some primary care trusts.
Read more >

• Download NICE's final guidance on cochlear implants.

• NDCS has submitted several papers to NICE as it developed its changing position on cochlear implants. Read our response to NICE's second and most recent consultation document.
  
  NDCS response to 2nd NICE consultation document on cochlear implants (81 kb)

• In May 2008, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness held a meeting on cochlear implants in Westminster. NDCS briefed MPs on the latest position on cochlear implants before the NICE report was published.
  
  NDCS briefing to All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness meeting on cochlear impants (75 kb)  

• NDCS, working with the Ear Foundation, has commissioned research into young people's views of cochlear implants and parental perspectives on communication approaches.
  
  NDCS / Ear Foundation research into young people's views of cochlear implants (609 kb)
  
  NDCS and the Ear Foundation also currently researching parents' experiences of the support they receive.  

• Read NDCS's policy on cochlear implants.

Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that give a sensation of hearing to severely/profoundly deaf children who gain no or very little benefit from conventional hearing aids. 

Over 2,500 children have now been implanted in the UK and, in 2007, 430 children received an implant.

NDCS is committed to a whole child approach where education, health, social and personal needs are dealt with together. NDCS believes that cochlear implants are one part of that approach and not an alternative to it.

In a recent survey, NDCS found that over half of all parents were having to wait six months after assessment for implantation, of which 24% had to wait at least a year.

Some parents report being told that their primary care trust had used up it's allocated money for cochlear implants and that their child would have to wait until the next financial year.

Parents also report that bilateral implants have very rarely been offered to deaf children. 

Following the NICE guidance, NDCS will be looking to the NHS to end this postcode lottery for all parents of deaf children.

Our website provides more information to our members about cochlear implants.

We would like to say thank you to all the parents who have told us about the positive difference that cochlear implants have made to their child and family's life, as well as some of the challenges and difficulties they've experienced.

This has helped us present a strong case for action to NICE.

Want to share your own experiences on this subject or let us know what you think? Then get in touch by leaving a comment on this page or by emailing campaigns.wales@ndcs.org.uk.

Your recent comments

There are currently no comments on this page.