Hospital helps nurse hear again
People with hearing loss are up to five times as likely to be affected by dementia in later years because of the increased likelihood of depression and social isolation.
Northwick Park surgeon Bhav Patel is pushing for more to be done to help people who can’t wear traditional hearing aids.
As a result, the first bone bridge implant has been completed in north-west London with the device bypassing damaged parts of the ear and sending sounds directly to the inner ear through the bones of the skull.
Patient Danuta Bukanska heard about the work of Bhav’s department and exercised her right to be treated at the hospital of her choice, despite living in Hemel Hempstead.
The 26-year-old nurse was born with an underdeveloped right ear resulting in partial deafness and the risk of a skin infection made her unsuitable for a metal implant.
Danuta said: “I wasn’t properly diagnosed growing up in Poland but knew something wasn’t right and family and friends often tapped me on the right shoulder to get my attention.
“I just learned to get by and most people wouldn’t even realise that my hearing in that ear is pretty much non-existent."
Bhav added: “The procedure was completed within an hour and the patient allowed home the same day. We’d estimate around 30 patients having this life changing procedure every year."
The trust is currently waiting for approval from its local integrated care board to fund future bone bridge implants with four further patients identified as suitable for the procedure.