Waiting time grows for deaf seeking implants

cogs. I don’t feel like I need to ask for permission any more, to walk along these streets any more,’’ she says.

Te Tai Tokerau Maori Women’s Welfare League president Mere Mangu said more wraparound services, particularly accommodation, were needed for deportees and people straight out of jail.

She saw a lot of gaps in social support services but said she was particularly impressed with how Papalii had integrated into the community, describing her as a role model.

Papalii had come to a league meeting and stood up and introduced herself, explaining her background.

‘‘I think she’s very brave. So there was enough understanding by everybody as to who she was. She didn’t say that she was going to do it, she just got up and did it. I think she gained the respect of everybody straight away.

‘‘There’s been no backlash or anything. Quite the opposite. I think like everyone else, she’s doing the best she can with what little resources she has.’’

Corrections acting national commissioner Rachel Leota said it had budgeted $300,000 over five years to put toward reintegration providers who helped deportees get a bank account, accommodation, and an IRD number.

‘‘Providing effective reintegration services for returning offenders is important because many don’t have strong links to New Zealand,’’ she said.

‘‘Working with returning offenders to help them settle back into life in New Zealand, including helping with accommodation, employment, establishing bank accounts and working with other government agencies to allow access to benefits, etc., helps with the reintegration process.’’ THE possibility of hearing is steadily getting further away for Kiwis on the waiting list for cochlear implants.

Deaf people now have to wait an average of six months or more for the life-changing operation in the north, and three months more if they’re south of Taupo.

The average wait time has jumped to 20 months for those on the Northern and Southern Cochlear Implant Trust lists, up from 14 months and 17 months last year. .

But that’s nothing compared to the ‘‘absolutely frustrating’’ four and a half years Vivienne Welham spent on the list.

‘‘I was told that I would have one within two years, but two years came and went and all of a sudden I was approaching five years. The clinics don’t get enough funding, and I was constantly bumped down the list by people whose need was greater than mine.’’

Welham was born completely deaf. She can lip-read proficiently and has a stable job as an accountant.

Those that were newly deaf and not coping as well as Welham were taking priority.

However, two weeks ago, Welham who lives in Avondale, Auckland, finally made it to the top of n cochlear implant.

‘‘It’s an amazing piece of equipment, and totally different from wearing a hearing aid.’’

The implant converts sound waves into weak electric currents, which are delivered to a nerve in the inner ear and on to the brain, where they are understood as acoustic sensations.

The Ministry of Health designates more than $8 million for around 40 operations and associated support annually.

‘‘We acknowledge an increasing demand for cochlear implants,’’ said director of service commissioning Jill Lane.

‘‘Some of which is related to our growing ageing population and to increasing awareness of cochlear implants.’’

To qualify for the waiting list, patients need to satisfy several criteria including having severe to profound hearing loss in both ears, that isn’t helped by standard hearing aids.

There is no waiting list for children.

I was bumped down the list by people whose need was greater than mine.’ VIVIENNE WELHAM