NZ Audiology Expert Supports Publication On Treating Adult Hearing Loss With Cochlear Implant

The first ever global consensus on the use of cochlear implants for the management of adults living with hearing loss was published today in Jama Otolaryngology.1

The paper was authored by a new panel, including 31 hearing experts from surgical and audiology backgrounds representing more than 13 countries. The authors also consulted representatives from worldwide patient and professional societies.1

According to Associate Professor Holly Teagle, and co-author of the consensus paper/member of the International Cochlear Implant Advocacy Alliance, the publication is a major step forward in the treatment of hearing loss in New Zealand.

“This consensus document will help create clinical best practice guidelines that will lead to a standard of care which is currently lacking for adults living with a severe hearing disability. In New Zealand, while we are performing well against many of the statements in the document, due to our limited funding resources for adults, we are not implanting adults in a timely manner which is impacting their quality of life and hearing outcomes.”

Auckland teacher, Mark Newman, met the clinical criteria as set out in the consensus document for a cochlear implant, but due to the strict funding criteria in New Zealand, was unable to access a publically funded implant.

“I started losing my hearing 21 years ago, and in 2017 I was referred to the cochlear implant programme. Although I clinically met the criteria for an implant, due to the funding restrictions I was advised that it was unlikely that I would get a publically funded one.

“I was terrified I would lose my job, so I decided I would fundraise for one through Facebook and Givealittle, and got my first implant in December 2017. Two years later, I took out a loan through GEM finance for my second one. If I had not funded my implants I would have lost my career. I’d already lost my social life and enjoyment of music, I wasn’t prepared to lose anymore.”

According to Lee Schoushkoff, CEO of the Northern Cochlear Implant Trust, and Neil Heslop, CEO of the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme, the consensus paper is a major landmark in the treatment of severe to profound hearing loss, but New Zealand still has a long way to go in this regard.

In New Zealand, just 40 adults nationally receive government funding for a cochlear implant every year. Today, there are 230 people on the waiting list, and every year this number is expected to increase by 40 to 50 people.

“Before now, there has never been an international agreement on the best way to diagnose and treat severe to profound hearing loss in adults. This paper outlines the first ever-global consensus on how we can optimise hearing care for adults,” says Schoushkoff.

Heslop adds, “Without an increase in government funding for adult cochlear implants, hundreds of New Zealanders face the prospect of never hearing again. Cochlear implants are not covered by health insurance; either you are one of the 20 percent lucky enough to be funded, or you pay $50,000 to have the procedure privately. Our funding is also significantly out of step with other OECD countries.”

Though cochlear implants are an effective medical intervention for many adults living with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss3, conservative estimates suggest that no more than 1 in 20 adults who could benefit from a cochlear implant have one.4,5

To view the consensus paper, including the full methodology and consensus statements, click here www.adulthearing.com

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