Improving facilities for people with cochlear implants

Deafness Research UK recently kitted-out sound booths at a newly-built addition to the 'South of England Cochlear Implant Centre', at the University of Southampton.

[Equipment grant]

The Centre was stablished in 1989 to help adults and children with severe to profound hearing loss. Currently, an average of 28 patients per year have an operation at the Centre, to receive a cochlear implant. In addition to the lifetime clinical commitment to each patient, the Centre is involved in research and development, and has achieved international standing as a result of the presentation of new findings and new technology. These innovations and discoveries ensure that patients receive unrivalled service in terms of up-to-date advice, treatment and rehabilitation.

The new facility provides research space to develop studies that bring together a range of relevant fields of research linked to the auditory and perceptual environment, and has allowed new research developments that were previously held back by lack of suitable facilities.

A key feature of the new development is a more ‘patient friendly’ environment, which is especially important for child patients. The improved facilities allow the rising number of cochlear implant patients to be accommodated at the Centre, and will also allow Professor Mark Lutman and Professor Phil Nelson, to undertake research aimed at improving the performance of cochlear implants in the future.