The Nottingham charity, The Ear Foundation warmly welcomes the release today of NICE guidance supporting cochlear implantation for deaf children and adults. After a detailed two year appraisal process, NICE has come out firmly in favour of cochlear implantation, pioneered by The Ear Foundation here in Nottingham. It paves the way for thousands of deaf children and adults who do not get sufficient benefit from hearing aids to receive cochlear implants on the NHS. NICE's recommendation will ensure that NHS widens access to this life changing procedure, giving the option for access to hearing for all.

The NICE recommendation opens the door for deaf adults to receive cochlear implants without difficulties in funding. Children will now be offered cochlear implants in both ears at a very young age thus maximising their potential for improved communication skills, speech and language, and improving educational and employment opportunities.

This follows our long campaign, with other voluntary bodies, to ensure that deaf adults and parents of young deaf children have the option to choose a cochlear implant, and we are delighted that NICE has listened to the evidence and views presented by the charities and user groups involved in the campaign.

2009 sees the 20th anniversary of the UK's first multi-channel cochlear implant being given to Michael Batt, deafened by meningitis, here in Nottingham and funded by The Ear Foundation. His mother Marion Batt welcomed NICE's guidance: "Twenty years ago we had an agonising wait whilst supporters in the community raised funds to obtain an implant for Michael and we are delighted that future families will not have this added pressure. NICE's decision means that the current generation of deaf children can now look forward to a much brighter future with easier access to the hearing world, better educational outcomes and improved job prospects."

Cochlear implants

A cochlear implant is a two-part electronic device that is surgically implanted in the patient's inner ear. Sound is picked up by an external processor that converts it into an electrical signal. This electrical signal directly stimulates the hearing nerves and passed to the brain where it is perceived as sound.

The Ear Foundation

The Ear Foundation is the Nottingham-based charity that introduced cochlear implants for children to the UK in 1989. It now provides a bridge between the clinic-based services where implants are fitted, and home, school and work where they are used in everyday life. We provide an internationally recognised programme of family and user support and information, continuing education programme for all professionals, and family and user-focused research programme.

The Ear Foundation