By Danielle Kutchel
A new cochlear care centre promises to give south-eastern residents easier access to world-class support and services.
The South Eastern Cochlear Care Centre, a partnership between Hearing Australia and Cochlear Australia, was officially opened on Tuesday 17 September by Professor Graeme Clark, the inventor of the multi-channel cochlear implant.
It will provide both paediatric and adult services, and can cater to multilingual patients through translation services.
Professor Clark was accompanied by Pakenham resident and cochlear implant recipient Roger Platt.
Mr Platt had his first cochlear implant 11 years ago after witnessing the improvement one had made to his daughter’s life.
He says it had a dramatic impact on his own life.
“Before that it was hard mixing in groups and talking, I just shied away from people because I didn’t want to keep asking them to repeat things,” he said.
But not long ago he found the hearing in his other ear had begun to deteriorate too, and last month he had his second implant.
The new centre in Dandenong will make life much easier for residents on this side of Melbourne, Mr Platt said.
Prior to its opening, patients would have to travel to the centre in East Melbourne, a lengthy day trip, for access to hearing professionals to see if they were a candidate for a cochlear implant.
Nick Fitzgerald, Chief Financial Officer at Hearing Australia, said through the centre, the two organisations hoped to reach more patients by improving their access to hearing professionals, as well as increase awareness of how cochlear implants can assist people with hearing loss to regain their lives.
“It’s great to see the expansion of those services so people can rediscover the sounds they love and experience what they need to with family and friends,” he said.
That has certainly been the case for Mr Platt.
“I don’t mind being amongst people and I actually look for conversations. You’re not off in your shell,” he said.
He now gives back by volunteering for hearing studies, and has an important suggestion for anyone worried about potential hearing loss.
“If you feel you’ve got a bit of hearing loss, go and see a hearing professional and have a hearing test and see where you’re at with your hearing.
“If you leave it you can get into depression. You will shy away from people … do a test and you’ll have a much better life.”
The South Eastern Cochlear Care Centre is located on Halpin Way in Dandenong.
