One of the problems facing health services is that of communicating effectively essential information concerning their services and care plans with deaf people. Planners and providers of health services need to recognise their responsibilities and the rights of deaf people to have full information and access to services available to the community as a whole.

Cochlear implants are a recent and ongoing development which can be of benefit to deaf people of all ages. It is usually considered in the case of born deaf children who have not had the opportunity to develop speech.

After the implantation there follows the process of understanding sound and the acquiring of improved hearing and speech. However, the subject is controversial and disagreements exist between those who support cochlear implants and those who do not. This warrants further research.

The Scottish Council on Deafness therefore recommends that the following good practice be implemented:

1. Deaf Adults

1.1 SCoD supports the rights of deaf adults to choose to have cochlear implants where appropriate.

2. Deaf Children

2.1 SCoD supports the rights of post lingually deaf children to be considered for cochlear implants, only if considered appropriate for each individual child and after a thorough multi-disciplinary assessment.
2.2 Extreme care must be taken with deaf children who have residual hearing since they may benefit from the use of hearing aids rather than cochlear implants.
2.3 Where possible, deaf children should be involved in the decision-making process.

3. Pre-Cochlear Implant

3.1 All deaf adults, deaf children and parents of deaf children should have access to the full range of information and research on cochlear implants that is available - including the pros and cons of cochlear implants.
3.2 All deaf adults, deaf children and parents of deaf children should be aware of the views and policies of various deaf organisations on cochlear implants (see Bibliography below).
3.3 All deaf adults, deaf children and parents of deaf children should have the opportunity for full discussions with appropriate people, including those who have had:
(i) successful implants,
(ii) unsuccessful implants, and
(iii) implants refused for any reasons.
3.4 All deaf adults and children considered for cochlear implants should receive thorough multi-disciplinary assessments.
3.5 All staff in the Cochlear Implant Teams should receive deaf and deafblind awareness training; this should be provided both in pre-service training, and in in-service training on an ongoing basis.
3.6 All staff in the Cochlear Implant Teams should also be fully aware of the Scottish Council on Deafness' position statements on audiology and health services and which should be read in conjunction with this document.

4. Post-Cochlear Implant

4.1 All deaf adults and children who have had cochlear implants should receive regular multi-disciplinary follow-ups and rehabilitation.

Selected Bibliography

The British Deaf Association's Policy on Cochlear Implants (1994).

The National Deaf Children's Society Policy on Cochlear Implants and Children (2002).

The National Deaf Children's Society & British Cochlear Implant Group (1999) Quality Standards in Paediatric Audiology Volume 3: Cochlear Implants for Children, Joint Review by NDCS & BCIG.

The National Deaf Children's Society, Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme & Cochlear (UK) Ltd (1999) Deaf children and cochlear implants - A booklet for parents.

The National Deaf Children's Society, Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme & Cochlear (UK) Ltd (1999) Deaf children and cochlear implants - A leaflet for the community.