Implant Program for Hearing Impaired to be Available
The Department of Health today announced funding for a one-year pilot program to provide cochlear implants and follow-up therapy in Nova Scotia for the profoundly hearing impaired who need the service. Previously, Nova Scotians travelled out-of-province for the implants. The pilot program will start in July.
“One of government’s objectives is to provide specialized medical procedures in Nova Scotia for our residents whenever that is possible,” said Health Minister Jamie Muir. “A partnership made this cochlear implant program available in Nova Scotia. This is a fine example of what can happen when committed people work together. I congratulate everyone involved.”
A cochlear implant is a device implanted in the inner ear (cochlea), with a computerized component that attaches to the body. This external device processes speech and delivers it to the implant. The hearing nerve then sends this message to the brain, where it is processed as sound.
The funding announced today also provides for follow-up training and therapy that helps the wearer link sound to meaning and use language effectively.
The proposal was brought to the Department of Health by the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres (NSHSCs). The funding allows for 14 Nova Scotians to receive surgery this year, plus follow-up therapy from the NSHSCs.
Lynn Fraser, CEO of NSHSCs, welcomed today’s announcement.
“Most important, for many, is that this surgery means improved communication,” she said. “As well, it has been a tremendous burden on individuals and their families to travel for this procedure. It is such a great benefit to now have it available in Nova Scotia.”
Each cochlear implant surgery will cost about $30,000. In addition, funding for audiology assessment and audio/verbal therapy services will cost $140,000 a year. The cost to the Department of Health for this program is expected to be approximately $560,000 a year.
The program will be evaluated in 2002.