29 Apr 2014

More funding for deaf children

8:24 am on 29 April 2014

Currently, children with severe hearing loss in both ears receive one funded cochlear implant - an electronic device that provides a sense of sound - but from July they will receive two.

Children under six who've already received a single implant will also be eligible for a second.

The Government is committing an extra $6.3 million to the programme over four years.

The head of the Southern Cochlear Impant Programme, Neil Heslop, says it's fantastic the Government is moving to international best practice.

Mr Heslop says the implants help children understand speech when they otherwise would not and two implants provide much more benefit at an early age.

The Government has also announced an extra $1 million to cut the waiting list for adults requiring cochlear implants.