Imagine being able to see people's mouths move and only understanding half of what they say, or worse, nothing at all.
That is the reality for people who are profoundly deaf.
However, a cochlear implant could restore hearing to some people. And for many it was their only chance to live a normal life, Southern Cochlear Implant Programme general manager Neil Heslop said.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device which turns sounds into electric pulses and sends them directly to the nerve of hearing.
Cochlear implants were for people who got no benefit from conventional hearing aids, and Mr Heslop said "demand exceeds supply".
The southern programme, which covers New Plymouth to Stewart Island, was referred 20 to 25 children a year and had funding to perform one implant procedure for 23 children a year.
However, adults were going on to a growing waiting list.
"We are receiving anything up to 100 referrals [for adults] a year and we are funded to do 10 a year."
Sixty adults are awaiting funding for surgery.
Mr Heslop said adults could be waiting two to three years to have the surgery and in that time their ability to live a normal life or even hold down a job was affected.
"Certainly, with improvements in technology there are more people that could benefit from a cochlear implant ...
It's a catch-22 situation, as people become aware of the technology and we implant people with the technology, the success of the cochlear implant generates more referrals ... however, funding is limited."
One cochlear implant cost about $30,000, the total cost of care for the first two years was about $50,000.
Mr Heslop said his organisation worked closely with the Ministry of Health to look at ways to improve funding.
"In an ideal world" people would get the implants they needed. In this year's Budget, $1.3 million extra funding was made available for cochlear implants - about 20 implants.
However, the northern programme had 58 people on its waiting list, so the funding would only cover about 17% of those waiting for implants.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said it was not enough for the Government to maintain the status quo, when it came to support for people with hearing disabilities.
"In many ways people with hearing impairment are at the bottom of the queue."
- Written by Timothy Brown.
