Ear Foundation - International Meetings Held In Nottingham

Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat
Also Included In: Hearing / Deafness
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Three exciting events are taking place in Nottingham this week, all organised by The Ear Foundation, a Nottingham charity which supports profoundly deaf children, young people and adults who can now hear with their cochlear implants.

On Thursday 26 June 2008 at 5:30 pm, there will be a Twilight Lecture at The Ear Foundation's headquarters in Lenton, addressed by internationally-renowned speaker Prof Dr Susan B Waltzman, Professor of Otolaryngology at New York University School of Medicine. Prof Waltzman will be talking on the subject of bilateral cochlear implants, a subject that is receiving much focus at the moment in view of the ongoing review by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The benefits of having two cochlear implants or a cochlear implant and a hearing aid have been well documented and confirmed by many bilateral hearing aid and cochlear implant users. These positive results have led many unilateral cochlear implant users to explore the viability of a second implant.

Apart from those people gathered at The Ear Foundation, many others from around the world will be joining the lecture "live" on the Internet, thanks to Phonak iLearn. From past experience, as many as 600 people log on to The Ear Foundation's lectures from every continent - and from the convenience of their own homes or offices.

Immediately after her Twilight Lecture, Prof Waltzman will carry out the Official Opening of two refurbished rooms in the residential building, Marjorie Sherman House, which will be used for a brand new service called Sound Advice. The Ear Foundation will be providing time for children and adults to explore with professionals the best way of maximising the use of their cochlear implants and/or hearing aids.

Then, on Friday 27 June, The Ear Foundation is arranging a major international conference at the National College for School Leadership on the subject "Implantation in the first few months of life: what do we know and what are we doing?" Following the introduction of Newborn Hearing Screening worldwide, implantation in the first year of life is now accepted management of profoundly deaf children. It brings parents and professionals alike new challenges, as well as opportunities. What is the reality, how is our experience growing? This conference will explore these issues with a faculty of international experts, including Prof Waltzman.

According to The Ear Foundation's chief executive, Brian Archbold, the conference was set up to bring together current practice and knowledge in the area with input from a range of professionals and parents who will provide a personal perspective.

Note

The Ear Foundation was established in 1989 to bring to the UK the innovative technology of cochlear implantation which offers useful hearing to profoundly deaf children and adults. There are about 7,000 cochlear implant users in the UK; and over half profoundly deaf children in the UK have cochlear implants. There are 180,000 in the world, including 6,000 bilateral users. The Ear Foundation provides support as the potential of the technology becomes more apparent.

The Ear Foundation