Double boost for deaf children

Published on Friday 6 February 2009 20:54

HEARING implants in both ears are to be made available for profoundly deaf children on the NHS in Scotland for the first time.

Until now, children and adults with severe to profound deafness have been offered one cochlear implant to maximise their hearing ability.

New guidance to health boards recommends double hearing implants should be offered to all severely and profoundly deaf children who are not adequately helped by acoustic hearing aids.

Double implants will also be offered to severely and profoundly deaf adults who are also blind or have other disabilities that increase their reliance upon their hearing.

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, said: "Having met with a number of parents of deaf children, I'm very aware of how much they value the National Cochlear Implantation Service.

"Being able to offer hearing implants in both ears from now on will make an enormous difference to the lives of severely deaf people in Scotland."

Last September, Ms Sturgeon said the NHS in Scotland would review its guidance and make any necessary changes when a new assessment on bilateral implants was complete. Double implants will now be offered to all deaf people who meet the clinical criteria, at an estimated cost of around 750,000 a year.

Chris Ratcliffe, director of the National Deaf Children's Society Scotland, said: "We are delighted that … the Scottish Government is making good on a promise made to us in September to offer bilateral cochlear implants on the NHS for deaf children. This brings Scotland in line with many other European countries."