Cochlear Press Release: CI Inventor Graeme Calls on Australians to Break the Silence About Deafness

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A media release from the Cochlear Corporation, Australia

Break the Silence

For Release: May 27, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE May 27, 2004

26,000 OLDER AUSTRALIANS UNNECESSARILY ISOLATED BY DEAFNESS–

INVENTOR OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTAND PROMINENT SURGEON SHOUT FOR AUSTRALIANS TO SEEK

HEARING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

More than 26,000 Australians aged over 65 are unnecessarily isolated by deafness

because their hearing loss is left undetected and untreated, or they are unaware

of hearing options available to them, it was revealed today.

Speaking at the launch of Cochlear’s national campaign to encourage older

Australians to seek solutions for hearing difficulties, multi-channel cochlear

implant inventor Professor Graeme and Australian rugby legend Wally

called onall Australians to “Break the Silence” about deafness.

Leading cochlear implant surgeon, Dr Birman, from the Sydney Cochlear

Implant Centre, also added her voice to the campaign.

Professor Graeme , a former Senior Australian of the Year, said that many

older Australians were reluctant to admit they had a severe to profound hearing

loss.

“When they lose their hearing they may lose quality of life, may be forced to

stop work prematurely, and may experience significant loss of finances and

self-esteem,” he said. “Many are forced onto disability pensions as they can no

longer work.”

“People are falling through the gaps and the onus is on all of us in the medical

community to spread the message that something can be done to help people who

are no longer getting benefits from their hearing aids.”

He said that since 1982 when the technology first because commercially available

only 850 Australians aged over 65 had received a cochlear implant. Worldwide

more than 60,000 people have received the technology.

“When I first invented the multi-channelcochlear implant more than two decades

ago it was my vision to help people with hearing loss. It is a tragedy that this

vision is so dramatically unrealised with 26,000 Australians missing out on a

world of sound.’’

Wally who officially launched the campaign for the organisations saidolder

Australians who lost their hearing should not feel helpless.

“Seeing my daughter receive the joy of sound through a Cochlear Implant was one

of the single most amazing moments of my life,’’ he said. “I want older

Australians who are losing their hearing to realise that this is not a condition

that they have to accept, and they can continue to make the most of their lives

with family and friends if they seek help.’’

Dr Birman said that after two decades, cochlear implant surgery was

now an accepted option for severe to profound hearing loss.Its proven and

routine application, she said, was evident by the fact that cochlear implants

are now regularly implanted in children as young as one year.

“At the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, we have implanted nearly 1000 people.

The youngest was only five months of age and the oldest was 93,” she said.

Dr Birman said it was time for more older Australiansto see if the cochlear

implant or other hearing solutions could help them return to a world of sound.

Doctors and other health professionalshad the responsibility to talk to older

Australians about solutions for severe to profound hearing loss, she said.

“The number of potential candidates for the cochlear implant is continually

rising as selection criteria alters,’’ Dr Birman said. “For anyone who receives

no benefit from a hearing aid it could be time for them and their doctor to

discuss other solutions.’’

Dr Birman said people seeking information on cochlear implants should call

Cochlear on 02 94286555 or www.breakthesilence.com.au, or can contact the Sydney

Cochlear Implant Centre on 02 9844 6800 or www.scic.nsw.gov.au

For further information contact:

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