CHILD REFERRALS
Paediatric Programme - for clients up until 19 years of age
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For all clients up until their 19th birthday. Children are eligible for two cochlear implants under the public programme.
Public Referrals
Audiological guidelines:
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Children who have a bilateral severe hearing loss or worse, from 1 kHz to 8 kHz in the better ear on ABR testing, or on a reliable unaided pure tone audiogram.
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Children with limited aided speech information above 2 kHz (as seen on speech-mapping).
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Children with a severe reverse sloping hearing loss or worse, whose speech and language are not progressing adequately.
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Special cases:
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Meningitis
Children who have recently suffered from meningitis which has caused a bilateral or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss >65dBHL, should be urgently referred following diagnosis.
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Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD)
Children with a confirmed diagnosis of ANSD and who are not progressing in their speech and language development. Referrals are considered irrespective of PTA. Children with additional needs who also meet the audiological criteria will be accepted for assessment.
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Private Referrals
Audiological criteria:
Single Sided Deafness (SSD)
Asymmetric hearing loss (where the worse ear has a severe hearing loss or worse, from 1 kHz to 8 kHz).
Other:
If you are not a New Zealand citizen or do not hold a residency class visa we can do a private assessment for cochlear implantation. Referrals are accepted at any age.
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If you are in doubt about a possible referral, please refer or call our Paediatric team to discuss.
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