In an exciting first for the new SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service, the first ‘switch-ons’ in the integrated service model have been managed through the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program’s western Sydney centre at Penrith.

With five children from the area who are profoundly deaf joining the program in June-July 2014, the new model has been established at the Penrith centre and RIDBC’s wonderful facility at Nepean, giving families the choice of selecting all or some of the services available.

As the candidacy period for families can be a very anxious time as they come to terms with the realities of having a hearing impaired child and

try to understand the complexities of the cochlear implant option for them, the families formed a close group and provided great support to one another. Since then Charlie, Hunter, Dale and Theo have all been bilaterally implanted by Assoc. Professor Catherine Birman at CHW. Lilly, the only little girl in the group, and her family are eagerly awaiting confirmation of her surgery date.

All four little boys have had a successful ‘switch-on’ and they appear to be enjoying hearing the many sounds of the world.

The success of the program is a tribute to the expertise, professionalism and goodwill of all involved so we congratulate and thank the staff at our Penrith hub: Sarah Love - audiologist

Congratulations and Welcome to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program

All the babies: Dale, Hunter, Lilly, Charlie, Theo.

Lisa and Rod watching Dale’s first reactions to sound.

SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service Newsletter: Gladesville, Australian Hearing Hub, Newcastle, Canberra, Gosford, Lismore, Port Macquarie, Penrith, Darwin, North Rocks.

November 2014

Newcastle 710 Hunter Street NEWCASTLE WEST NSW T 02 4926 8100Canberra 10 Rudd Street CANBERRA NSW T 02 6248 6492

Central Coast Ground Floor, 40 Mann Street GOSFORD NSW T 02 4324 2110Lismore Suite 10A Conway Plaza, 21 Conway Street LISMORE NSW T 02 6622 5593

Port Macquarie Shop 11, 146-150 Gordon Street PORT MACQUARIE NSW T 1300 658 981Penrith Suite 5A, 119-121 Lethbridge Street PENRITH NSW T 1300 658 981

Darwin Ground Floor Stage, 13-17 Scaturchio Street CASUARINA NT 0810 T 1300 658 981North Rocks Watsons House, 361-365 North Rocks Road, North Rocks NSW 2151 T 1300 658 981

SCIC PO Box 188 GLADESVILLE NSW 1675Bldg 39 Old Gladesville Hospital via Punt Road GLADESVILLE

T 02 9844 6800 F 02 9844 6811 E scicadmin@scic.nsw.gov.au www.scic.org.au

and Centre Manager, Erika Haglund- audiologist, Moira Hickman – early intervention consultant, Cecile Gray – Family Counsellor, Andrea Gibbons – habilitationist, Catherine Warren – administration, along with Melissa Sangalang - RIDBC Nepean Director, Lynne Richards - early intervention consultant, Michelle Milnes – RIDBC’s Head of Early Childhood Services, and all other staff members who have contributed to this initiative.

continued overleaf

Charlie playing.

By all reports the service established at Penrith and Nepean has had a great start. For Charlie, Hunter, Dale and Theo, the services that the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program is able to provide for them will be life changing and we would like to thank our many donors for their generous support of the program over the years. Without you it would not have been possible to be where we are today. We encourage our readers to make a donation to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program to ensure we are always able to help the children and adults who need our services.

A sausage sizzle is planned to celebrate the beginning of this wonderful journey for all five families once Lilly has had her surgery and been ‘switch-on’.

Effective from 1 July, SCIC is now part of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children RIDBC, forming Australia’s largest service provider for the deaf and vision impaired.

The two organisations bring together a vast range of services for the benefit of hearing impaired children and adults. I’m pleased to say that our recipients will see very little change and continue to receive the same first class cochlear implant care as part of a comprehensive program tailored to meet their individual needs and stage of life.

The merger is official recognition of the many years of collegial activities between the two organisations. Plans are in place to establish a full range of services at each SCIC Cochlear Implant Program/RIDBC centre to improve convenience and accessibility for all of our clients:adults and children alike. Exciting and very busy times ahead!

Our Northern Territory service has been integrated with RIDBC providing Territorians with a comprehensive local hearing and habilitation service.

Work has been completed on our expanded Newcastle Centre, effectively doubling its size. Many thanks go to Carmel Ramsey, our Newcastle Manager and her long suffering staff for assisting and putting up with months of dust and inconvenience whilst the work was completed. I’m sure our Newcastle clients think it’s been worthwhile.

Exciting news for our Canberra team as well. Plans are under way to re-locate into much bigger premises which will also be integrated with RIDBC services, consistent with our aim of providing a “one stop shop” for all of our clients. Watch this space for an update in next edition of Stay Tuned.

Jacqui Wilson, our audiologist and centre manager at Lismore has resigned to spend more time with her family. We will certainly miss her and thank her for the enormous time and effort she has spent in establishing the Lismore centre. A new audiologist is being sought to take Jacqui’s place.

There has been much press about the federal government’s plans to “sell off” Australian Hearing. The potential impact of these plans is of great interest to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program and of course many Australians. We will be following the progress of the sale and outcomes closely.

The ever increasing demand for our services and our desire to improve accessibility means our costs are forever increasing. We need your support to ensure we can meet these challenges. Donations can be made using the form on the back of this edition of Stay Tuned, by calling 1300 658 981 directly or online at www.scic.org.au.

With best wishes,

Robert McLeod Chief Executive Officer SCIC Cochlear Implant Program

From the Chief Executive’s Desk…I mentioned in the June Stay Tuned that discussions were being finalised to merger of SCIC with RIDBC.

Above: Dales switch-on team (Erika & Moira). Middle: Charlie at one of his first MAPping appointments. Below: Theo, Erika and Emma post switch on.

cover story continued

Baby Hunter playing.

Thanks SCIC NewcastleThanks SCIC Newcastle, for putting a smile on Oliver’s face when he received the loaner processor you sent him when his stopped working!

Noah was born with a progressive hearing loss and received a cochlear implant through the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service, in 2013.

Noah now loves hearing sounds so much he won’t let his Mum take the speech processor off before bed - she has to sneak in and remove it after he is asleep.

He is at regular school and loves it! He is learning to read and wears his “clever pants” (school uniform) every day. Noah is part of the hearing world!

“If I take this off I can’t hear you”

Noah featured recently on Sunday – Channel 7

Thinking of making a Bequest?Let me introduce you to Noah.

Your Bequest to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program will make it possible for more children like Noah to don their ‘clever pants’ and look forward to a bright future in the hearing world.

For more information on leaving a Bequest to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, contact the Development Office.

T 1300 658 981 F: (02) 9844 6811

E scicadmin@scic.org.au www.scic.org.au

The Hon. Jillian Skinner MP, Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research, officially launched a merger between Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre (SCIC) and Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) on Monday 25 August, as part of Hearing Awareness Week.

“As Health Minister, I have been blessed to see a cochlear implant switched on and to witness the joy felt by a mother when a child hears her voice for the first time,” Mrs Skinner said.

The SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service, creates Australia’s largest and most comprehensive cochlear implant program.

It brings together two great Australian charities to deliver life changing cochlear implant technology to children and adults with hearing loss across the country.

Minister Officially Launches the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service.

We are so pleased that Wilfred Lawrence, a recipient from our Canberra centre, is able to enjoy the sound of his new grandson Alexander, now that he has had his implant ‘switched-on’ and is doing well.

Wilfred Won’t Miss Out Now!

The merger ensures more services are delivered to more Australians than ever before, giving us a greater ability to provide the highest level of support at every stage of the cochlear implant journey.

Mrs Skinner used the event to announce funding for 12 cochlear implants for adults at Westmead Hospital. Another 10 will be provided through the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.

For more information visit www.scic.org.au

Above: The Parramore family attended the Official launch. Right: The Hon Jillian Skinner, Minister for Health with SCIC/RIDBC clients and staff.

Monday, 25 August 2014 marked the end of an era when Professor William (Bill) Gibson AM announced that he was stepping down as SCIC Director and that Associate Professor Catherine Birman would take up the position of Medical Director of the newly merged SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service.

Professor Gibson affectionately known by everyone as “Prof” made his pronouncement at the official launch of the new service that was attended by The Hon Jillian Skinner, NSW Minister for Health. The merger of SCIC and RIDBC will form Australia’s largest cochlear implant program.

Prof commenced what is now SCIC, in 1984 with the vision of helping children and adults for whom hearing aids were not providing access to sound. Under his stewardship and guidance SCIC, has grown from one small centre performing eight surgeries in 1984/85 to a network of eight regional centres providing cochlear implant surgeries for 396 people in 2013/14. SCIC now offers cochlear implant and related services for over 4000 clients from seventeen sites around Australia.

Considered the pre-eminent cochlear implant surgeon in the world, Prof has contributed enormously to the development and acceptance of cochlear implants for deaf children and adults.

During his 30 years with SCIC he has done over 2,000 individual surgeries

and in 1995 he became a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his contribution to the deaf and hearing impaired. Whilst “Prof” has officially announced his retirement he intends to continue on with his research studies, particularly relating to Meniere’s disease and will also continue to provide guidance and counsel for SCIC Cochlear Implant Program.

In between spending time with his family and on his many interests including his boat, which for some strange reason is called “Mad Wax”, we look forward to having him still be very much a part of our team. Enjoy your extra leisure time Prof, you certainly deserve it.

The Baton Changes Hands

SCIC Newcastle Supporting Indigenous HealthAwabakal Ltd. Newcastle Aboriginal Cooperative recently created a healthy hearing ambassador named L’il Mike, a cute, animated character who raps about ear health.

Lil Mike is the brainchild of SCIC Cochlear Implant Program surgeon A/Professor Kelvin Kong and Awabakal and was launched to coincide with Hearing Awareness Week.

The aim of L’il Mike is to engage and empower Aboriginal kids and their families to take care of their ears and to create awareness amongst clinicians about checking kids’ ears. Aboriginal people are ten times more likely to suffer from ear disease and hearing loss than the rest of the Australian population. This can have devastating long-term effects upon educational outcomes, social interaction and job prospects.

Central to the L’il Mike campaign is a unique screening tool which anyone can use. The tool helps check kids’ ear health and informs families about recognising symptoms of poor ear health. L’il Mike is part of a holistic approach to Aboriginal health which Awabakal Ltd. applies through its primary and preventative health services.

You can view ’Listen up’ and ‘Boom’ on the Awabakal website www.awabakal.org/lil-mike They are wonderful!

Above: Professor Bill Gibson has performed over 2,000 individual cochlear implant surgeries during his 30 years at SCIC.Left: A much younger Bill Gibson watches a ‘prom stim’ with Dr Chris Game in 1984.

Above: SCIC staff celebrate Prof Gibson’s recent 70th birthday. Below: Prof Bill Gibson with Holly, who was SCIC’s first paediatric recipient in 1987.

“Aboriginal ear health is currently at fourth world status, not second, not third but fourth world status”Associate Professor Kelvin Kong

Professor Bill Gibson, SCIC founding Director has handed the role of Medical Director to Associate Professor Catherine Birman.

After completing ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist training A/Prof Birman underwent a fellowship in cochlear implantation and paediatric ENT, joining Prof Gibson and the SCIC program in 1998 as a cochlear implant surgeon.

A/Prof Birman sees both adult and paediatric cochlear implant patients at SCIC and is one of the most experienced cochlear implant surgeons in Australia.

She is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Sydney lecturing for the Diploma in Child Health and a Conjoint Professor with Macquarie University’s Master of Audiology. She is regularly invited to present both nationally and internationally on cochlear implant and implantable devices outcomes and surgery.

A/Prof Birman’s service roles include President and Vice President of the NSW branch of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Secretary of the A& NZ Society of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Head of Department at both Hornsby and the Sydney Adventist Hospital. She is a member of the Medical Advisory Committee at Macquarie University Hospital and has worked on a number of committees for improved cochlear implant patient outcomes and guidelines. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Board of Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children RIDBC.

Welcome to Associate Professor Catherine Birman as Medical Director

Will you make a regular gift so that SCIC Cochlear Implant Program can provide crucial services for all hearing impaired children and adults?

To arrange your regular donation please use the form on the back page of this Newsletter.

An Interview with A/Prof Catherine Birman.“Prof Bill Gibson created SCIC in 1984 as a charitable organisation dedicated to providing the best hearing outcomes for people with cochlear implants and implantable devices. Since then it has grown to over 3500 recipients with more than 50 employees and 8 surgeons” A/Prof Birman said.

To continue providing the very best outcomes for cochlear implant recipients, from babies to the elderly, A/Prof Birman stressed the importance of SCIC retaining core values of communication, integrity, technological innovation and respect.

“Going forward, I would like to build on this vision, reaching out to even more people with hearing loss while continuing to support our recipients as technology keeps improving and indications keep expanding,” she said.

A/Prof Birman emphasises the importance of respecting each patient with hearing loss, recipients, their families, SCIC colleagues and other programs that are part of each person’s hearing journey.

“Ensuring the right diagnoses, optimised technology and the best evidence based care is available for recipients are all very important. Also harnessing technological advances, both through cochlear implants and implantable devices, along with the delivery of services including remote mapping and live stream video conferencing for teaching and habilitation will ensure best outcomes,” she said, reiterating that “we need to always provide good communication for our recipients and maintain clear communicating with colleagues and other organisations if we are to expect good outcomes.”

“I am delighted to have been part of SCIC’s first 30 years and look forward to a strong future providing the best care for people with hearing impairment,” she concluded.

A New Addition to the Johnston family“In 2012 I was delighted to be invited to the wedding of two of SCIC Canberra clients – Steph Johnston and Angus Johnston.

Angus & Stephanie first met on a train bound for Deaf Camp in Sydney in 2003 and became good friends, corresponding for a couple of years before losing touch. Angus moved from Bega to Canberra to complete his carpentry apprenticeship in 2007 where he met up with Steph again. By 2008 romance had blossomed and they became engaged in 2011.

I have been Steph’s audiologist for most of her life - firstly at Australian Hearing and now at SCIC. Steph received her implant in late 2009 and was switched on in January 2010. She has since completed her Bachelor of Education-Primary Education in Canberra. Angus was one of Prof Gibson’s original paediatric clients receiving his first implant in 1989. He was re-implanted in 2010.

Steph and Angus became the proud parents of Matilda in June this year and as an aside, Matilda passed her SWISH testing soon after birth so we will only be seeing her if she comes in with mum or dad.”

Anne-Marie Oorloff, SCIC Canberra audiologist

Gatherings at Gladesville

Thank You

Introducing Anne-Marie OorloffAnne-Marie (formerly Crowe) is an audiologist and the Manager of SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, Canberra.

On the 1 October 2014 she married Ivor Oorloff on what was a very happy and picture perfect wedding day.

Congratulations and best wishes to you both from the whole SCIC family.

It was great to see all the young adult recipients who came along to the recent young adults gathering at Gladesville. These events are coordinate by SCIC staff Rachel Attard and Samantha Stevens.

They offer a perfect opportunity for recipients who are transitioning from school into further study and employment to share experiences and get practical advice from clinicians. Contact Rachel on Rachel.attard@scic.org.au if you would like to receive information about future activities.

Bigger and Better at Newcastle Thanks to the continuing generosity of our donors, Newcastle clients will notice a big change when visiting the centre next.

The centre has been expanded and a new fit-out undertaken to give staff and clients a more comfortable environment when having mapping and habilitation sessions.

Carmel Ramsay, audiologist and Centre Manager is delighted with the results.

“It’s such an improvement for everyone,” she said. “Now we can comfortably accommodate the increasing number of people with hearing loss in the Hunter region who are wanting to access our services here in Newcastle.”

Many thanks to Jessica and Mark from Gladesville CBA, for coming to our Gladesville centre and presenting a cheque for $10,000 from their staff initiated Community Grants Program.

This substantial grant from the CBA staff fundraising initiatives will help subsidise the Outreach Program.

More than 80 children with hearing impairment live in rural NSW and access the Outreach Program. They obtain help ranging from post-operative devise tuning (mapping), lessons in learning how to optimise device use and trouble

shooting. The program also supports parents in working with their children for best outcomes.

Another important aspect of the Outreach Program is the education of teachers and other health related personnel who work with children who have cochlear implants to facilitate them in attending mainstream schooling and gaining the potential for meaningful employment.

A very sincere thanks to the staff of the CBA for generously fundraising to support charities throughout Australia.

The new reception area at SCIC Newcastle.

Important information From: Lyn & Sue

Around 50 people recently took advantage of our Professional Seminar, “Training the Brain for Listening” as part of the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, Research Program.

An expert team consisting of:-

A/Prof Catherine McMahon – Macquarie University

Kelly Miles – PhD Student – Macquarie University

Leanne Babic – SCIC Research and the HEARing CRC

Isabelle Boisvert - SCIC Research

Spoke about current knowledge of the cognitive aspects of speech perception, and whether if cognitive and/or auditory training can be beneficial to speech perception. It also looked at current and future research directions that could assist audiologists and audiology practices in making informed recommendations regarding brain training for hearing impaired listeners.

The seminar was teleconferenced to centres in Newcastle, Canberra, Lismore and Penrith.

Dr Isabelle Boisvert.

Swimming with your sound processor1. The Aqua+Cochlear has launched the Aqua+ allowing recipients to enjoy underwater activities while wearing their sound processor. It is designed for the Nucleus 5 and Nucleus 6 sound processors. It consists of a reusable silicone sleeve and a special reusable Aqua+ coil. It must be used with rechargeable batteries only.

The Aqua+ Accessory Kit costs $275.00.

2. The Aqua AccessoryIn addition to the Aqua+ Cochlear has released the Aqua Accessory, a clear plastic pouch with a zip lock seal designed to hold a Nucleus 5, Nucleus 6 and Freedom BTE sound processor, coil and coil cable. It must be used with rechargeable batteries only.

The Aqua Accessory comes in a pack of 5 and costs $25.00.

Purchase the Aqua+ or Aqua Accessory from CochlearOnline: www.cochlear.com/au/online- storeEmail: customerservice@cochlear.comPhone: 1800 620 929.

Keep your sound processor dryHaving fresh drying crystals is one of the most important tips for keeping your processor working well. The DRY-BRIK II is especially recommended for very sweaty people or very humid environments. Change your Dry-Brik every 2 months. Cedis Crystals are another desiccant you can use. They need to be replaced when they fade to pale yellow/white.

Putting your processor in the Dry&Store each night will keep it working well.

Need partsKeep spare parts at home so you can make sure your processor works when you need it most. Clients who pay for their own parts can buy from:

Cochlear

Online: www.cochlear.com/au/online- storeEmail: customerservice@cochlear.comPhone: 1800 620 929.

MED-EL

Email: office@medel.com.au Phone 1300 744 782.

Australian Hearing

Supplies CI parts from the Cochlear Implant Call Centre for eligible clients – those under 26 year or pensioners.

Phone 1800 131 339.

You should make sure that you know which type of processor you use and the parts you require. You can still get batteries and drying crystals for your dry-aid kit from your local Australian Hearing centre.

Lost, stolen or strayed sound processorsWe know it is easy to lose a sound processor and dogs love to chew them… so please make sure your processor is safe at all times. If you have to take it off for some reason, please carry a small container to keep it in and put it somewhere safe.

If you are having trouble keeping the device securely on your ear, use one of the retention devices available to make sure it is safe. There are several devices you can try – ask your audiologist for advice.

‘Like’ us @ SCIC (Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre) to find about what is happening in the cochlear implant world.

SCIC Research:

Training the Brain for Listening

Presenters: Kelly Miles, Leanne Babic, Catherine McMahon and Isabelle Boisvert

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NOV 2014

Donations can be made online www.scic.org.au or phone 1300 658 981

Important Donor InformationIn July SCIC merged with RIDBC (Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children) and from now on will be known as SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service.

The two organisations bring together a vast range of services for the benefit of hearing impaired children and adults, tailored to meet their individual needs and stage of life.

The SCIC Cochlear Implant Program will continue to fundraise independently to support our 3,000 plus recipients.

As a supporter of the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program we take your donor privacy seriously and wish to advise you of this change of circumstances and

give you the opportunity to advise us of your preference for further fundraising activities.

If you would prefer that your donor records not be shared, please tick the box below and return this coupon to SCIC either by emailing to barbara.howard@scic.org.au or by using the enclosed prepaid envelope.

Barbara Howard Development Manager SCIC Cochlear Implant Program

Gifts over $2.00 are tax deductible.SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC Service collects personal information to assist in the processing of donations, issue tax receipts where applicable and send updates. While SCIC may disclose your information to trusted third parties such as our mailing house and our bank, we will not share your information with any other charity. Please contact us on 1300 658 981 if you do not wish to receive mail from us. For more details on privacy, please read our Privacy Policy at ridbc.org.au/privacy-policy