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10/09/2015  |   1:45 PM - 3:00 PM   |  SAC Auditorium

Increasing access to hearing implants to further enhance educational and professional opportunities to people in low-resource settings

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 0.5 to 5 in every 1000 children worldwide are born with or develop sensorineural deafness in their early childhood ; this amounts to some 32 million children worldwide. While the prevalence rate varies by country it is a fact that children’s development of speech, language, and cognitive skills, educational and career opportunities, and ultimately their quality-of-life, suffer if they are denied the ability to hear. A child with severe-to-profound bilateral hearing impairment, without cochlear implantation, may not, be able to perceive environmental noises regardless of their loudness or nearness and he/she will certainly lack the ability to develop an understanding of human speech or develop the ability to produce speech at a level close that of people with normal hearing. After cochlear implantation and 6 months experience with the device, their mean pure tone average threshold might range from 20 – 44 dB HL. While this constitutes a mild to moderate hearing loss, it is sufficient to hear sounds that normal-hearing people take for granted like everyday conversations, traffic, and sirens; all of which, without a cochlear implant, they would have not perceived or perceived as too soft and unclear to be of benefit. Repeated studies have shown children who use a cochlear implant have a normal language development and are significantly better at perceiving, understanding, and producing meaningful speech and reading than they would be if they had a hearing aid or received no auditory assistance. These benefits are especially pronounced if they are implanted before their first birthday. The aim of this presentation is to further expand on the outcomes of cochlear implants in children, the need for access to this innovative technology at an early age in all countries across the globe and a comprehensive multi-stakeholder approach to guarantee sustainability.

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Patrick D'Haese (POC,Primary Presenter,Author), MED-EL, patrick.dhaese@medel.com;
Patrick D’Haese has been the Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs for MED-EL GmbH since February 2013. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the Healthcare Industry, with specific expertise in the field of active implantable devices, namely cochlear implants and other hearing implants. During his career, he has held various global and European industry positions allowing him to develop and understand a multitude of perspectives on issues associated with hearing loss and its treatment. Patrick holds degrees in speech and language pathology, audiology and business administration. Over the years, he has lectured around the world and published widely on cochlear implants and has been involved in several research studies and clinical investigations. Patrick is a thought leader in the area of hearing impairment.