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Dear Editor,
I was moved by your front page story Friday 12th September concerning toddler Rose Murfitt and her cochlear implant.
Until last year I had perfect natural hearing and gave those with hearing impairment little thought. The following a simple knee operation I contacted septicemia and then endocarditus (heart valve infection). I was given life saving antiobiotics in Rotorua Hospital with very ototoxic effect.
ACC accepted my case as Treatment Injury and the side effects of these drugs as Consequential Treatment Injury. From December 2007 to March 2008 I was fitted with three increasingly stronger hearing aids. Finally at the end of March even my Super Power BTE hearing aids set at 135dB made no difference. I was and still am totally deaf.
In April 2008 I had am MRI scan and was interviewed for suitability of cochlear implants. ACC approved bi-lateral implants with an approximate cost of $55,000 per side over five years. I am the first adult to receive publicly funded bi-lateral implants. I received my first implant on April 20th and second on June 21st via a three hour operation. Then there was a three week until the big day of Switch-On. From that day onwards, like Jennifer, I too began a new journey to interpret the new sensation of sound via electrical stimulation of my auditory nerves. A new ‘sounding’ being entered my body and repulsed me every time I spoke. My wife and children (and everyone else) sounded like chipmunks on helium!
My weekly visits to Auckland for MAPping (programming) have eased to monthly visits. These are usually intense half day appointments with an audiologist and speech therapist.
I’m gradually beginning to make sense of the perceptions of ‘sound’ I receive. The on-going costs will be considerable. I use approximately 30 batteries per week and just a processor coil which attaches to my head via magnet costs $360 AUD. My external processors will require an up-grade every five years at a further cost of $15,000 per side.
The Northern Cochlear Implant Trust which covers a line north of Gisborne-Taupo-New Plymouth have funding for just thirteen single sided, adult implants per year. So many profoundly deaf adults are required to wait more than two years for public funding.
I would be happy to make a donation to a fund if set up for Rose. Then if she is finally accepted by the Ministry of Health for funding the money could be donated to Hearing House or Pin-Drop Foundation.
I note the feeble response from both Steve Chadwick and Dr Jackie Blue. A review of just Roses' case is not required. A complete review of all cochlear implant funding should be the minimum.
Cochlear Pty Limited (Sydney) Australia manufacture 75% of the cochlear implant market. They have just celebrated 30 years of commercial implantation and 125,000 world wide. There are currently only three manufactures of cochlear implants, Cochlear, Med-El, and Advanced Bionics, supplying an approximate total of 200,000 implants world wide.
Australia, USA and Europe, now recognise bi-lateral implantation as a benchmark for funding. The MP’s mentioned show their ignorance to this need by attempting to make an election year statement to review just Rose Murfitts' case. If they are genuine they will make an election promise to review and commit to fully public bi-lateral cochlear implant funding for all suitable children and adults alike.
I have set up blog to detail my rapid journey to deafness and back. You are welcome to view it atwww.silverdorothy.blogspot.comIf you require further information or if I can assist in any way, you can contact my wife Carmen on ...
Kind regards
Colin Anderson
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Dear Editor,
I was moved by your front page story Friday 12th September concerning toddler Rose Murfitt and her cochlear implant.
Until last year I had perfect natural hearing and gave those with hearing impairment little thought. The following a simple knee operation I contacted septicemia and then endocarditus (heart valve infection). I was given life saving antiobiotics in Rotorua Hospital with very ototoxic effect.
ACC accepted my case as Treatment Injury and the side effects of these drugs as Consequential Treatment Injury. From December 2007 to March 2008 I was fitted with three increasingly stronger hearing aids. Finally at the end of March even my Super Power BTE hearing aids set at 135dB made no difference. I was and still am totally deaf.
In April 2008 I had am MRI scan and was interviewed for suitability of cochlear implants. ACC approved bi-lateral implants with an approximate cost of $55,000 per side over five years. I am the first adult to receive publicly funded bi-lateral implants. I received my first implant on April 20th and second on June 21st via a three hour operation. Then there was a three week until the big day of Switch-On. From that day onwards, like Jennifer, I too began a new journey to interpret the new sensation of sound via electrical stimulation of my auditory nerves. A new ‘sounding’ being entered my body and repulsed me every time I spoke. My wife and children (and everyone else) sounded like chipmunks on helium!
My weekly visits to Auckland for MAPping (programming) have eased to monthly visits. These are usually intense half day appointments with an audiologist and speech therapist.
I’m gradually beginning to make sense of the perceptions of ‘sound’ I receive. The on-going costs will be considerable. I use approximately 30 batteries per week and just a processor coil which attaches to my head via magnet costs $360 AUD. My external processors will require an up-grade every five years at a further cost of $15,000 per side.
The Northern Cochlear Implant Trust which covers a line north of Gisborne-Taupo-New Plymouth have funding for just thirteen single sided, adult implants per year. So many profoundly deaf adults are required to wait more than two years for public funding.
I would be happy to make a donation to a fund if set up for Rose. Then if she is finally accepted by the Ministry of Health for funding the money could be donated to Hearing House or Pin-Drop Foundation.
I note the feeble response from both Steve Chadwick and Dr Jackie Blue. A review of just Roses' case is not required. A complete review of all cochlear implant funding should be the minimum.
Cochlear Pty Limited (Sydney) Australia manufacture 75% of the cochlear implant market. They have just celebrated 30 years of commercial implantation and 125,000 world wide. There are currently only three manufactures of cochlear implants, Cochlear, Med-El, and Advanced Bionics, supplying an approximate total of 200,000 implants world wide.
Australia, USA and Europe, now recognise bi-lateral implantation as a benchmark for funding. The MP’s mentioned show their ignorance to this need by attempting to make an election year statement to review just Rose Murfitts' case. If they are genuine they will make an election promise to review and commit to fully public bi-lateral cochlear implant funding for all suitable children and adults alike.
I have set up blog to detail my rapid journey to deafness and back. You are welcome to view it atwww.silverdorothy.blogspot.comIf you require further information or if I can assist in any way, you can contact my wife Carmen on ...
Kind regards
Colin Anderson