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Dear Members,

As the outgoing Chair of BCIG, I’m excited to shortly test drive the role of

first Immediate Past Chair as Helen Cullington takes over as Chair. It has

been a great honour to work on the board of trustees (formerly Council),

an enormous pleasure to be involved in the many projects which we have

initiated or collaborated in over my time as Chair and a wonderful privilege

to work alongside such amazing and inspiring BCIG colleagues.

Please come along to BCIG 2020 in Nottingham, to find out about exciting

developments on the horizon. For instance, there will be a BCIG device

registry workshop - don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the data set

debate! We are also thrilled to launch the CI Champions programme. This

is new a collaboration between BCIG and BAA to encourage CI education

and links with local audiology centres, to improve rates and quality. We

are excited to welcome audiology colleagues from around the UK on day

2, for a parallel workshop and to experience our fabulous annual

conference.

We are delighted to be bringing Professor Patricia Oakley to BCIG 2020.

A fabulous interactive speaker, she will bring her experience in NHS

strategy and policy and apply it to cochlear implants. Are we ready?!

When both Kate Hanvey (Secretary) and I step down in March 2020, the

board will consist of 4 audiology, 1 rehab and 1 medical member (plus me

as IPC, very much a behind-the-scenes role). We have two vacancies

arising, Secretary and Vice-Chair. All eligible members are very warmly

encouraged to apply and if your area is under-represented at the moment,

you know what to do!

I look forward to seeing you at BCIG 2020.

Tracey Twomey, Chair

Members’

Newsletter

Members’

Newsletter

Increasing the profile of rehabilitation and

acknowledging its importance within the

cochlear implant field and hearing

impairment in general, is essential. Could

this be the start of something refreshing!

The BCIG Annual Conference in

Southampton featured presentations

specifically relevant to rehabilitationists

and which should certainly shake up the

thinking and support offered to very young

children. In addition to this the prestigious

Graham Fraser Memorial Lecture by Prof.

Warner-Czyz focused on CI children’s

communication and quality of life. This

information should inspire research

questions, audit and case studies in the

field of early language development within

rehabilitation teams.

At BCIG we want to promote research,

discussion and share information. To this

end please contact BCIG via email so that

we can communicate work which is being

completed to other rehabilitationists and

CI team members and continue to

increase the profile of rehabilitation.

Helen Peebles, Editor

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BCIG Conference 2019 (Solent Conference Centre, Southampton)

Carl Verschuur, Service Director, University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service

The University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service (AIS) were proud hosts of the 2019 British Cochlear Implant

Group annual conference on April 4th and 5th. Clinicians, researchers, manufacturers and cochlear implant users united

under the theme ‘Connecting for Life’ for the cross-disciplinary meeting, with over 230 people attending.

The venue was “The Spark”, a new (and rather futuristic-looking)

conference centre in Southampton city centre. The event was

opened by Mark Spearing, President and Acting Vice-Chancellor of

the University of Southampton, who took the opportunity to highlight

the fact that the meeting coincided with the recent and very positive

news that NICE guidelines have been updated and widened to allow

greater access than ever to cochlear implantation.

Discussion was fueled by over 50 posters and 15 free papers as well as

invited faculty talks, along with a range of manufacturer and other

exhibits, and technology suites. Daniel Moualed won the presentation

prize for best free paper for his talk on “Patient experience and

complications in auditory implant recipients undergoing magnetic

resonance imaging.” A number of talks also included contributions from

cochlear implant users, and there was a very stimulating debate around

the question of whether individuals should be able to self-refer to cochlear

implant centres.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the high standard of contributions from the invited speakers, who gave

outstanding talks on a range of areas. Robert Shephard kicked off the meeting with an overview of the early days of

implantation and also new developments in neuro-implantable devices. The delegates heard from other key note

speakers on the neuroanatomy of speech and language and its implications for early cochlear implantation (Paul Johns),

new ways of understanding the electrode-cochlear interface (Manohar Bance) and the link between dementia and

hearing loss (Sergi Costafreda-Gonzalez). The Graham Fraser Memorial lecture, which rounded off day 1, was given

by Andrew Warner-Czyz on the topic of development of social relationships in children with cochlear implants.

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Delegates got a special access to Southampton City art gallery

before enjoying the gala dinner. This included a very entertaining

and wide-ranging speech by Quentin Summerfield, in honour of

his recent retirement and enormous contribution to development

of cochlear implantation in the UK. He was presented with a

retirement gift by Tracey Twomey on behalf of the BCIG, before

the assembled crowd got to let their hair down and enjoy some

dancing with local Audiology-themed band the Guvna’z.

The feedback on the conference was very positive and the organising committee want to extend their thanks to everyone

who made it such a success. We look forward to seeing many of you for the 2020 BCIG annual conference, which takes

place on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th March 2020.

Benefits of membership

Full

Members

Corporation

Members

• Access to Members area of the website

• E-learning

• Discount for BCIG Annual Conference

• Communication to Members

• Online access to Cochlear Implants International Journal

• Contribute and access to online newsletter

• Take part in surveys

• Contribute, advertise and disseminate information on the BCIG

website.

• Able to vote

• Volunteer at events

• Take part in working parties

• Tax relief

• Share experiences and expertise

• Contribute to online learning

• Influence policy, Government, NICE

• Contribute to resources and training

• Option to take part in special interest groups

• Propose and be included in research Projects

• Option to become a committee member

• Position papers

• Potential to gain support for cross-clinic research projects

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BAA/BCIG Cochlear Implant Champions Scheme

Martin O’Driscoll

BCIG trustees are excited to say we have agreed that the BCIG will work with the BAA to promote awareness of referral for

cochlear implantation around the UK and we would like to invite your centre to participate.

We must stress that the proposed scheme is intended to complement the relationships that exist between CI centres and local

audiology services and it is not intended to replace them. It works in addition to your existing initiatives and local engagement.

The scheme is intended to create 'CI champions' within local audiology departments, and these Champions would be the key

people in a department to give their colleagues advice and support about referring for a cochlear implant. The local champion

would have a named representative or Mentor at the CI centre with whom they can liaise – this could be the CI coordinator or

another nominated member of the team. The CI Champions scheme would include a free-of-charge education programme

for audiologists and access to any resources the BAA/BCIG develop.

The scheme is entirely optional - it would be up to local audiologists whether they would like to take advantage of the training

and resources available and up to each CI centre to decide if it wanted to participate. We hope that this would be seen as an

excellent development and CPD opportunity for audiologists working in your region and that increased knowledge and liaison

at a local level will improve the quality of referrals for implantation.

The scheme itself is based on a very successful piece of work in South Manchester (by Ann-Marie Dickinson), that has

significantly increased the quality of referrals into the Manchester programme. Both Ann-Marie and I presented an outline of

the Scheme at the BAA conference in Liverpool last November and we took the opportunity to update the BAA on the latest

NICE guidelines for cochlear implantation.

The BAA has promoted the scheme to its membership and any audiologist interested in becoming a local CI Champion is

asked to complete a registration form (see next page) – please feel free to pass on to your local audiology departments. A

number of audiologists have already registered and we will be holding the first CI Champions workshop in parallel with the

second day of BCIG 2020 on Weds 11th March in Nottingham. The workshop will be led by speakers from BAA and BCIG - if

you are interested in participating then please get in touch. We would encourage the Mentor from your CI centre to attend part

of the Champions workshop to link in with any of your local departments that may be attending.

We are really hopeful that all CI centres will sign up to the scheme. It is not onerous to participate and we think that this is an

exciting opportunity to further strengthen communication and promote CI awareness. We are pleased to be collaborating with

BAA, and believe that it will help local audiologists feel that CIs are more accessible to them and to eligible patients. Many CI

centres have already contacted me to say that they are interested in taking part and offered a name for a local CI Mentor;

however, if you have not yet responded and would like to be involved then please contact me at the following email address:

martin.odriscoll@mft.nhs.uk

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BAA/BCIG Cochlear Implant Champion Scheme - Advert

What is the Role of the Champion within Audiology Services?

• To train, support and empower staff in your team to counsel patients/clients and their families about cochlear

implants (CIs).

• To ensure all eligible patients/clients and their families are offered informed-choice and shared-decision making,

when considering a CI referral and refer to cochlear implant services.

• To audit, the quality and quantity, of CI referral taking place in your service, and monitor referrals.

• We must stress that the proposed scheme is intended to complement the relationships that exist between CI

centres and local audiology services and it is not intended to replace them. It works in addition to your existing

initiatives and local engagement.

Training:

The first CI Champions training workshop will take place on the 11th March 2020 at the BCIG conference in Nottingham.

Online training and support will be offered pre- and post-workshop. The training will be free but travel and

accommodation will not be reimbursed. The champion role is important for audiologists working in a paediatric and adult

setting, in the NHS and independent sector.

Personal Qualities:

You should be motivated and committed to the scheme. You should have good communication skills and be prepared

to share information and guide/inform discussions about implants within your team.

Responsibilities of the Champion:

• Dedicate at least 1 hour per week to this scheme.

• Monitor implant referrals in your service.

• Audit the quantity and quality of implant counselling in your service.

• Share audit results with your team at regular intervals.

• Build a relationship with your local implant service.

• Offer training and support to everyone your department.

• Attend the annual CI Champion training day and engage with the online training.

Your line manager must agree to support you in this role. Please register your interest by sending your name and name

of your department/service to admin@baaudiology.org

For more advice on CI referral please see the BCIG website (www.bcig.org.uk) and a resource developed by the BAA

Service quality committee: www.baaudiology.org/indexphpnews/news-home/its-time-talk-about-cochlear-implants.

A short video to raise awareness of CIs has been developed by the BAA Service Quality Committee, please share

widely: www.youtu.be/kcwatblWpkY

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Graham Fraser Travel Grants

Patricia Fraser, GFF Trustee

Since 2018 the Trustees of the Graham Fraser Foundation (GFF) have invited applications from non-medical BCIG

members for a travel grant to attend a national or international conference, short course or observership in another

cochlear implant unit. These Graham Fraser Travel Grants are advertised annually on the BCIG website. The level of

support provided covers the conference registration fee, travel expenses and accommodation and is payable against

proof of expenditure. The travel grants are awarded on merit based on an applicant’s curriculum vitae and details of the

proposed venture. Within three months of their return recipients are required to provide a short report describing their

experience and the benefit they have derived professionally from the Foundation’s support.

To date six BCIG members have received a travel grant, five to attend conferences and one an overseas observership.

Two audiologists, Stephanie Corkill and Roulla Katiri, attended the 15th International Cochlear Implant Conference in

Antwerp in June 2018. Robert Pierzycki, a research fellow, and Estelle Gerrett, an auditory verbal therapist, attended

and presented papers respectively at the 2018 BCIG Annual Conference in Belfast and the Alexander Graham Bell

Global Symposium in Madrid in June 2019. While visiting her PhD supervisor in Sydney, Sarah Hughes, a speech and

language therapist, was able to attend the 2018 Audiology Australia Conference. Gemma Mole, a hearing therapist,

spent two weeks in New Zealand in December 2018 observing the work of Ellen Giles in rehabilitation after implantation

at the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme’s Hearing House in Auckland.

The GFF Trustees are pleased to contribute to the professional development of BCIG members from the non-medical

professions involved in cochlear implantation. Applications for a Graham Fraser Travel Grant should be made by 31

December for a grant in the following year (see www.bcig.org.uk for more details).

BCIG Conference 2020 (Crown Plaza Hotel, Nottingham)

Improving Healthcare in the 21st Century

BCIG 2020 will be held at The Crowne Plaza in Nottingham on 10 and 11 of March 2020. This is a fantastic venue and

is will suit the conference perfectly. This is a centrally located hotel that allows easy access via train into Nottingham

central station. We also have plentiful complimentary parking on site at the hotel for those delegates wishing to drive.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME:

DAY 1: http://tinyurl.com/BCIG2020DAY1ProvProgramme

DAY 2: http://tinyurl.com/BCIG2020DAY2ProvProgramme

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Advanced Bionics: Supporting You and Your Patients Success

We are committed to supporting you as healthcare professionals, providing you with all the training and resources

required to support your patients. Learn more about our latest training events here:

AIM Update Meetings

Location: Various (local in-house events)

Learn about the latest AB innovation;

Active Insertion Monitoring (AIM) system.

Understand the intra-operative and post-

operative clinical benefits of the AIM system

and how it can support your clinical practice.

Objective Measures for Cochlear Implants

Location: TBC (October 2020)

Aimed at cochlear implant Audiologists

with at least 2 years’ experience in fitting AB.

Learn more about various objective measurements

including NRI, eABR, eSRT and eCochG and how

they can help you to further support your patients.

Contact your AB Clinical Specialist for more

information.

We are also committed to supporting your patients at every step along their journey; as hearing aid wearers, whilst

considering cochlear implants, during assessment and following implantation. Our support is wide-reaching and cross-

sectional; ranging from collaboration with charities to providing cochlear implant awareness, hosting information and

accessory days and developing our network of volunteer community mentors.

We host regular Communicate with Success events across the country aimed at cochlear implant candidates and AB

recipients. We provide dedicated time to talk to an AB Consumer Specialist as well as the opportunity to chat to mentors,

learn about AB technology with hands-on demonstrations and discover what support is available. Visit:

www.AdvancedBionics.com/uk-events

For more information contact your AB Representative or email info.uk@AdvancedBionics.com

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Measuring the comparative benefit of upgrading cochlear implant

sound processors

Cochlear Implant Sound processors require replacement after several years. Upgrades offer improvements in hearing

performance and comfort e.g. reduced size, weight, ease of use and connectivity. However, upgrades have cost

implications therefore it is important that benefits are measured objectively.

A clinical study (Warren et al., 2019) aimed to identify recipients’ listening experiences using the Nucleus® 7 processor

compared to their previous processor.

Adult CI recipients with at least 6 months CI experience and 3 months experience with a Nucleus 5 or 6, completed the

Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and a Processor Comparison Questionnaire (PCQ) after 3 months of

listening with the Nucleus 7. Speech understanding using Nucleus 5, 6, and 7 processors was evaluated, together with

wireless streaming direct from a smartphone to the Nucleus 7 processor.

The COSI and PCQ demonstrated significant improvement in perceived benefits in comparison to participants’ previous

processors. Direct streaming via a smartphone improved when compared with acoustic input alone. Speech recognition

tests in quiet and noise showed equivalent or improved results using the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor compared to

previous processors.

The Nucleus 7 Processor provided benefits in areas such as usability, connectivity and comfort. Authors concluded that

the COSI is an effective tool for assessment of specific benefits and re-affirms the benefits of processor upgrades.

Chris D. Warren, Esti Nel & Paul J. Boyd (2019): Controlled comparative clinical trial of hearing benefit outcomes for users of the Cochlear™ Nucleus®

7 Sound Processor with mobile connectivity, Cochlear Implants International, DOI: 10.1080/14670100.2019.1572984

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Three new products launched by MED-EL

NEW: SONNET 2 for easy listening

The SONNET 2 features MED-EL’s most advanced Automatic Sound Management including Adaptive Intelligence that

detects changes in the environment and noise reduction technology, to provide the best hearing even in the most

challenging of environments.  

AudioLink connectivity device

The AudioLink is an all-in-one device that’s ideal for making phone calls, listening to

music, can be docked next to the TV, and acts as a remote microphone in meetings

or classrooms.

  AudioKey app for iPhone and Android  

With the new AudioKey app users can change settings, ‘find my audio processor’ to

an exact location, or check advanced datalogging stats including accessory use.

AudioKey is the only app with “Guardian Control” that allows parents and teachers

to pair more than one child’s audio processor with their phone for settings

adjustments and to review hearing stats for each child.

FineTuner Echo

The compact remote control also includes an integrated processor check and link monitoring tool, visual e-paper display,

and simple keypad lock to avoid unwanted changes. 

NEW: SYNCHRONY 2 implant

• Symmetrical central electrode lead design

• Consistent surgical approach for left and right ear

• Angled fantail transition for anatomical fit and secure electrode lead placement

• 3T MRI safety without magnet removal

• Approved for all ages

NEW: MAESTRO 8 making fitting easier and faster than before

• A new patient editor 

• Ability to make global fitting changes from the session view 

• Change front end processing from the session view 

• Extended data logging including environment categorisation, accessory usage, and input levels

• Improved results view for AutoART measurements. 

For more information or training email clinicalsupport@medel.co.uk

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Feel confident about the reliability of the Neuro System

Over 99% reliability for Neuro Zti implant and Neuro 2 sound processor

Cochlear Implant, Bone Conduction and Hearing Aid systems from Oticon Medical and Oticon are renowned for sound

quality and reliability, the Neuro System is no exception. Reliability data has confirmed that both the Neuro Zti implant

and Neuro 2 sound processor have some of the highest reliability rates in the market.

Reliability Matters – link to video

Reliability was a key focus of the Neuro System design objectives. Both the implant and sound processor are subject to

extensive testing with hundreds of different tests that simulate how the implant system is used in daily life.

Neuro Zti implant – 99.70% reliability

The recent annual reliability report 2019 by Oticon Medical confirms that the Neuro Zti implant has the necessary

resilience to withstand the impact of users’ daily lives – today and for many years to come.

Neuro 2 sound processor - Over 99% reliability

The Neuro 2 sound processor is as dependable with a reliability rate of over 99% after 18 months on thousands of

Neuro 2 sound processors worldwide. This result is calculated based on the FCRR (Failed Component Return Rate),

recommended by the latest Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standard4. The AAMI

standard is considered one of the toughest and requires the inclusion and publication of the types of recorded failure,

thereby setting the bar high for reliability measurement.

Full article: www.oticonmedical.com/for-professionals/cochlear-implant/explore-hearing/feel-fully-confident-about-the-

reliability-of-the-neuro-system

Neuro Zti reliability after 4 years – Cumulative Survival Percentage (data from 30th June 2019)

99.05%

90% 91% 92% 93% 94% 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% 100%

Neuro 2 sound processoroverall

Neuro 2 sound processor - Reliability

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Newsletter Editor:

Helen Peebles

Yorkshire Auditory Implant Service Listening for Life Centre Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Lane Bradford BD9 6RJ

E-mail: helen.peebles@bthft.nhs.uk

Exert from forthcoming book by Aidan Toomey (CI user)

Chapter 2: Switch on

I hardly said a word to my friend as we drove to the hospital. My mind was racing. I kept telling myself to keep my

expectations low. When I entered the hospital entrance, I was calmness personified. I also felt extremely positive. I was

ready (or at least I thought I was!).

I wanted a more consistent kind of hearing. For years, I had been waking up wondering, 'will I hear clearly or not today?'

Some days, it was better than the other days. As my hearing declined, I had to work harder to hear until the steady

realisation dawned, I was fighting a losing battle.

So, my mechanisms in dealing with Switch On were calmness and positivity. But, what I learnt from the experience is

that I don't think anything can prepare a Cochlear Implant recipient emotionally for Switch On.

My audiologist began to fine-tune my processor settings. I indicated to them as I became aware of the sound of each

electrode. This is known as the threshold level. Following this, they increased the volume level of each electrode. When

the volume setting was too loud, I indicated that I wanted the volume decreased. Eventually, through trial and error, the

audiologist completed all electrode settings at a comfortable level.

Finally, it was time for Switch On of my speech processor's microphone. Here it was! The moment I'd been waiting for,

'How does that sound?' my audiologist asked me.

Aidan Toomey is the editor of the blog 'Cochlear Implant Life' which can be found at: www.cochlearimplantlife.com