The Road Ahead
26 May 2021STEP 1
Firstly we need to get Matthew an MRI with GA. We are currently waiting for an appointment at the University of Auckland for an appointment as they only do MRIs with GA one day a month. They have indicated that we might be able to get an appointment in June, if not we will only be able to be helped in July 2021. No other hospital or radiology institution is able to assist us with an MRI with GA for a 5-year-old. This MRI will possibly assist the ENT specialist, Dr. Colin Brown, to determine what is causing Matthew's hearing loss.
STEP 2
Matthew's immediate need is to get new hearing aids and a Rodger system to support him when he goes to school. The current hearing aids that he is using our Audiologist, Chris Radford at Dilworth Audiology, has been so kind to source and borrow to us until we are able to afford new hearing aids for Matthew. These hearing aids are older technology and just assist Matthew in hearing normally. These hearing aids will be donated to a person in a similar potion as Matthew once Matthew gets his cochlear implants.
STEP 3
Following the MRI we will hopefully be able to determine what is causing the hearing loss and then also hopefully be able to stop the deterioration. However, the ENT, Dr. Colin Brown, has stated that in his experience we will most likely not be able to stop the deterioration and Matthew will need to be fitted with cochlear implants. Dr. Colin Brown has recommended not to do both implants at the same time as this will cause major stress on Matthew and most likely be too much of a mental strain for Matthew to bear because Matthew has been able to hear and the switching on of the cochlear implant only happens over a period of 6 to 8 weeks.
STEP 4
Following the MRI and the first cochlear implant the ENT, Dr. Colin Brown, will see how the development goes and decide when or if the second operation will be. As we still have a far way to go the second cochlear implant will most likely only be needed within the next 6 to 12 months.