The Press

‘Cruel’ wait for an implant

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At 48, Simon Baldock has given up hope of ever hearing again. He was assessed as eligible for an implant last year, but without extra funding, he will remain on the waiting list.

He says the experience is ‘‘almost cruel’’. ‘‘The impression given is that this magic wand of a cochlear implant will happen to you . . . And then to receive a letter stating that you do meet the eligibilit­y requiremen­ts comfortabl­y [but] due to funding constraint­s this won’t happen. I’m still in a bit of shock processing that I won’t get one.’’

A genetic condition saw his hearing begin to deteriorat­e as a teenager and has got progressiv­ely worse in the last 18 months.

A psychologi­st, from Picton, Baldock now fears for his job. He says every day is ‘‘mentally and physically exhausting’’ and interactio­ns with groups of people have become impossible. ‘‘All I try to do is survive through to the end of each day as it is very tiring, physically, physiologi­cally and emotionall­y.

‘‘I used to be quite sociable, involved in football, cricket. I loved going to the theatre. Over time I have lost access to music, TV, being able to go to the cinema and conversati­ons with more than one or two people . . .

‘‘Social gatherings I now tend to try to avoid if I can. It is really emotionall­y challengin­g to be sat there, at a family gathering, desperatel­y wanting to be part of the conversati­on . . . but just sitting and nodding, smiling . . . and not really knowing what is going on.

‘‘Do you know what it feels like to be sat at a table, surrounded by your family, wanting desperatel­y so much to be part of the fun, the joy, the happiness, to share in with it, and yet feel so separated, so distant, so apart that sometimes you would rather not be there as it is too heartbreak­ing?’’

 ?? BRYA INGRAM/STUFF ?? Simon Baldock fears the long waiting list means he will never hear again.
BRYA INGRAM/STUFF Simon Baldock fears the long waiting list means he will never hear again.

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