Monday, March 07, 2011
Improving Access To Devices For People With Severe Hearing Loss
McGuinty Government Invests in Additional Hearing Devices
Ontarians with severe hearing loss will now have quicker access to special medical devices that will improve their hearing and quality of life.
Ontario is providing 184 additional cochlear implants to help reduce the wait time for children and adults who need these devices. This investment nearly doubles capacity in the short-term and, based on the most recent data, will reduce the number of patients waiting for this procedure by over 50 per cent.
Cochlear implants are provided at The Ottawa Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). These five hospitals perform about190 implants annually.
Today's announcement is part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.
QUOTES
“Cochlear implants greatly improve the quality of life for people with severe hearing loss. Our government is taking action so that children and adults can receive these life-changing implants sooner.”
-- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“As one of North America’s leading centres for cochlear implants in children, we are pleased with this investment which directly enriches the lives of patients and their families.”
- Mary Jo Haddad, President & CEO, SickKids
“Following my hearing loss my parents and I were very concerned and apprehensive about what my future would hold. I have always been a curious child and the wonders associated with implantation really furthered my interest in science. This led to my determination to one day go to medical school and become a doctor.”
- Gurvinder Toor, 20-year-old former patient and current research student, SickKids Cochlear Implant Program
QUICK FACTS
- Cochlear implants improve hearing for people with severe or profound hearing loss by placing electrodes in the patient’s inner ear, which are attached to a microphone behind the outer ear and wired to an external speech processor.
- About 10 per cent of Ontarians with severe hearing loss are able to benefit from the cochlear implants procedure.
- Ontario is providing an additional $5.9 million to reduce the current wait time for cochlear implants.
LEARN MORE
Read about the services available to children who are deaf or have a hearing loss.
Find out about the coverage of cochlear implants under the Assistive Devices Program.
Public Inquiries
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