Cochlear implants have bought new hope for hearing impaired people as it enables the kids to hear something close to the full range of frequencies that normal people hear. During Cochlear implant, doctors put in a device that electronically stimulates the hearing nerve of the inner ear (cochlea).

The Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre (SCIC) has announced to open a full-time service in Lismore after it received a donation of $3 million from the Parramore Family Trust. The centre was officially opened on Wednesday, June 8, by Mayor Jenny Dowell.

The centre will be of great help for the local resident, who earlier had to travel to Sydney or Newcastle to receive all the treatments.

SCIC’s Director, Professor Bill Gibson, who was one of the founders of SCIC and has been doing cochlear implants since 1984, described the opening of the centre as “an incredibly generous gesture”.

At present, there are about 60 adults and 35 children in the Northern Rivers region who will receive the benefit from the new service. The number is expected to rise by 15% every year with people coming from regions such as Port Macquarie and Tamworth.