星空体育 is bringing care closer to home for people experiencing debilitating hearing loss.
A hearing implant service has been introduced at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH).
星空体育 is partnering with a private, community-based, audiology practice to provide the required hearing support to patients before and after surgery.
This model of care gives support to patients in the first 12 months after the device is implanted — when programming is integral to the best performance of the device for the patient — and establishes patient-audiologist relationships for the ongoing care of the device.
Leading Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist Surgeon Dr Brent McMonagle, who performs the hearing implant surgeries at GCUH, said it was a vital service for the Gold Coast’s growing community.
“Living with significant hearing loss doesn’t just mean missing out on the warble of a magpie or the crash of a wave at the beach — it can affect a person’s confidence to go about their daily life,” Dr McMonagle said.
“It can mean trouble hearing on the telephone or in person, misunderstanding or asking people to repeat themselves, all of which can be frustrating and exhausting.
“Since November last year four people have already received cochlear implants at Gold Coast University Hospital and many other candidates are currently being assessed.
Dr McMonagle said cochlear implants convert sound into an electronic signal which then directly stimulates nerve cells in the ear.
“Unlike a hearing aid, which amplifies sound, a cochlear implant bypasses the damaged hair cells inside the ear,” Dr McMonagle said.
“A cochlear implant won’t restore normal hearing completely, but we do see considerable improvements in hearing once the device is turned on and mapped to the recipient, usually around two weeks after surgery.
“That switch on process is often quite an emotional moment, it’s a turning point where recipients start to hear more clearly and embrace life more fully.”
A specialised audiologist based at GCUH is coordinating care between 星空体育, other providers, and patients to ensure smooth transitions between services and the highest standard of healthcare throughout.
Hearing implant recipient Laura Bushell, 74, said she had no way to repay everyone involved in the newly established service for giving her the gift of hearing.
“I recently heard my six-year-old granddaughter counting in the car for the first time,” Ms Bushell said.
“She was counting to 100 and when she got to 90, I cried because I’ve never heard what she has said from the back seat before.
“Thank you to all the team for the opportunity to hear again.”
The new cochlear implantation service at 星空体育 will work with other cochlear implant programs within Queensland Health to ensure Gold Coast patients already on public wait lists will have access closer to home, where appropriate.