1997-1998
Australia's Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, Budget Document 1997-98
Children who rely on cochlear implants to hear and communicate will benefit from a 1997-98 Budget measure which will provide just under $2 million over four years for replacement speech processors.
Fact Sheet 16
Replacement of speech processors for children with cochlear implants
Children who rely on cochlear implants to hear and communicate will benefit from a 1997-98 Budget measure which will provide just under $2 million over four years for replacement speech processors.From 1 July 1997, children with cochlear implants will be able to obtain improved and updated speech processors as they become necessary. Cochlear implants are used by profoundly deaf people who do not benefit from even the most powerful types of hearing aids.
The measure will be implemented through Australian Hearing Services, which will extend its specialist services to provide enhanced levels of support.
It will enable 380 children who are dependent on cochlear implants to, if necessary, update or replace their aging speech processors. These children will therefore be able to attend mainstream school and higher education facilities and will not be disadvantaged because of their reliance on high levels of technology.
The breakdown of new funding for replacement of cochlear speech processors for children over the next four years is:
| 1997-98 $m | 1998-99 $m | 1999-2000 $m | 2000-2001 $m |
| 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
Contact: Roger Barson, Assistant Secretary, Disability Programs Division. Phone: (06) 289 8744
