New Zealand And Australia Issues First TransTasman Guidelines For Adult Cochlear Implantation And Hearing Care

Global collaboration, local impact for Aotearoa

The Australia and New Zealand Hearing Health Collaborative (ANZ HHC) released the first New Zealand–adapted clinical guidelines for adult cochlear implantation and hearing care this month. Developed through a transTasman collaboration of more than 70 clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience, the guidelines localise the Global Living Guidelines to New Zealand’s health system, providing a national pathway from referral to longterm followup.

“This is the roadmap our system has needed,” said Michel Neeff, Clinical Director, Northern Cochlear Implant Adult Programme, ENT and cochlear implant surgeon. “It sets clear referral triggers so fewer adults fall through the cracks, defines candidacy and workup consistently across Te Whatu Ora regions, and embeds lifelong followup. Adults who meet evidencebased criteria should not wait years; these guidelines make that expectation explicit for clinicians and funders.”

“We see the human and economic cost of late access every day,” said Lee Schoushkoff, CEO of the Pindrop Foundation and board member of the Cochlear Implant International Community of Action (CIICA).

“This globaltolocal guideline gives New Zealand a common standard across public and private services, a framework to reduce inequities—including for Māori, Pacific peoples and rural communities—and a way to track outcomes that matter here.”

Why this matters for New Zealand

Hearing loss affects a significant proportion of adults. Devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants can improve communication, yet only a minority of those who could benefit currently use them.[1] The new guideline aims to accelerate timely identification, consistent referral, transparent candidacy decisions and coordinated rehabilitation, so adults are not left isolated by untreated hearing loss.

What’s in the guideline

The consensusbased recommendations address the full pathway for adults, including:

· Referral and triage: triggers for primary care, audiology and ENT to refer promptly for cochlear implant assessment.

· Assessment and candidacy: consistent protocols and criteria tailored to the NZ context.

· Pre and postoperative care: surgical considerations, device programming and structured rehabilitation.

· Longterm followup: recall schedules, device maintenance and troubleshooting.

· Equity and access: practical actions to reduce regional and demographic variation.

· Data and outcomes: measures to evaluate service performance and patientreported outcomes across NZ.

Access the guideline

The full evidence and recommendations are available in MagicAPP, with supporting information and summaries at hhc.anz.adulthearing.com.

[1] World Health Organization. *World Report on Hearing*. 2021.

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