1. Supporting adults and children with cochlear implants:
We promote access to CI with costs covered by national healthcare systems.
We demand that CI candidacy is based on the patient, not just on auditory thresholds.
The decision to implant must be based on full informed consent of parties involved.
Assistive hearing technologies made available as needed.
Products, environments, programmes and services must be accessible to all.
Stressing that cochlear implants are cost effective on any current cost benefit measure at any age, from babies to old age.
All professionals supporting CI-users need to have up-to-date knowledge.
2. Specifically for children:
Encourage early detection via screening and then early family-centred intervention. Identify CI candidates ideally before 9 months of age and no later than 18 months of age.
Support binaural hearing. Sequential bilateral implants should be 3 months to 1 year apart.
Ensuring the adequacy of educational programmes post-implant for optimal outcome.
30%-40% of CI users have additional needs, so support must be multidisciplinary.
Children with CI must have access to inclusive, high quality, free education.
3. Raising awareness:
We want to highlight the societal costs of untreated hearing loss.
We advocate for hearing screening for all new-borns and adults from around age 55.
Doctors and audiologists need better training about the potential benefits of CI to adults and older patients, as research confirms age-related hearing loss as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and dementia.
Increase awareness of best CI practice amongst patients, families, health professionals, educators, policy-makers, funders and the general public.
Encourage policy-makers and public health authorities to promote C.I.
Collaborate with other organizations to promote CI as the standard of care treatment within non-hearing loss disciplines.
4. Research:
Encourage and support research on all aspects of CI for children and adults.
We support an annual symposium or workshop to highlight research, clinical issues, rehabilitation, quality of life/cost effectiveness, health care policy, insurance issues, etc.
5. Accessibility:
Ensuring accessibility to information with support for oral communication in all areas of life, both public and private, including induction loops, speech-to-text interpretation, captioning, connectivity and improved environmental acoustics.