Forum » Bilateral implantation » Waiting times
Waiting times
Enquiry: My daughter had her 1st implant at 2 1/2 and is now nearly 8. We have been offered bilateral implants but told it will be 2 years from now. Are you aware of waiting times around the country in implant centres so we do not have to wait so long? We live in Devon and this needs consideration considering the travelling for mapping etc.
Reply: We are not aware of such a lengthy waiting time for a second implant. Implant Centres are under huge pressure at the moment because of the NICE recommendations and those receiving their first implant will still be the priority.
In two years time NICE will review the issue of sequential bilateral implants and will want to see robust evidence of its benefits. If this is not forthcoming, there is a possiblity that a sequential implant would not be available in two years time. If you are very keen for your daughter to have a second one, you should go back to your centre and if they are still saying that she would have to wait for two years, you should look at other centres who may be able to do this for you. Given your location, travelling to one of the London implant centres by train may be the easiest option, although not a cheap one.
If anybody has any further information about variations in waiting time, we would be really pleased to hear from you.
Posted on February 23, 2010 15:52
Comments
Our son had a sequential in the summer, but he is 10, and also used a contralateral hearing aid, which would indicate a good outcome. I know that many of the implant centres have agreed broadly on prioritisation criteria, and certainly at our centre the highest priority group included those with "the most potential to benefit", starting with the oldest, along with some other groups, which I think included post-meningital cases. Our son may have been implanted slightly earlier, as there was a cancellation theatre slot, and it may be that none of those higher up the list were able to make the slot, or were still undecided whether or not to proceed with a second implant. Not sure whether this is helpful, but that has been our experience.
Posted by Rosie Glen on March 12, 2010 17:18
It is always worth making your C.I. Centre aware that you are available to take any cancelled appointments. It is also possible that your daughter's bilaeral will be offered quicker than the 2 years quoted. The take up for sequential bilaterals is not as great as expected in some centres. the London centres, however, are very busy. Have a look at the location of all the centres you feel it would be possible to travel to and contact them to ask wht the likely wait would be. However, this will only give you a rough idea and cannot be relied upon. In the end, if you are happy with your current CI Centre, it may be better to keep chasing and hope that the time comes around quicker. Good luck!
Posted by tricia kemp on March 27, 2010 02:22
Well, I have the decision to choose to have a second implant but the CI centre said they, if i accept, they will do it in 2011. Now it completely changed and the deadline now is August or Setemper of this year. So dont think its in 2 years time.
Hope this helped!
Posted by Patrick Edwards on April 17, 2010 17:52
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