The race is on to raise £1.4m for a new Cochlear Implant Centre at Southampton University. KATE THOMPSON finds out more...

ITS ROOMS have played host to the most dramatic moments imaginable when more than 200 people have been given the chance to hear - sometimes for the first time ever.

The Cochlear Implant Centre based at Southampton University is a modern day success story.

Each year up to 30 people have their lives transformed when they have a so-called "bionic ear" fitted.

Earlier in May the Daily Echo highlighted the case of Katie Cheeseman - the Hampshire mother who started going deaf seven years ago and had never before heard her young son speak.

"Hello Mummy" were the first words the 36-year-old mother of two heard from her two-year-old son Toby.

And her elder son Elliott, 10, has been helping his mum learn to recognise new words with the aid of the new hearing device.

"With hard work and lots of practice I will be able to hear so much more. I can see there will be so many benefits," said Katie.

Her greatest wish was to hear her children speak - and to listen to birdsong once again.

Katie's hearing began to deteriorate in 1997 and she had to rely on hearing aids and lip reading.

She is now one of 200 patients who will visit the centre for the rest of their lives.

The growing number of patients has meant the current cramped facilities can no longer cope with the demand - and an appeal has been launched to raise £1.4m toward the cost of the £5.7m centre.

A mystery benefactor has already given a donation of £600,000 but more is needed if the architect's drawings pictured today for the first time, are ever to become a reality.

Steve Glasspool, who is co-ordinating fundraising for the centre said: "Our biggest single donation has been £600,000 from a long-standing friend of the university."

The new building will include the Hearing and Balance Centre (HABC) which focuses on finding new treatments for conditions affecting the human hearing and balance systems.

New facilities will be dedicated to the continuing development and evaluation of advanced hearing aid and cochlear implant systems, and to the evaluation and consequences of treatment for disorders of the human balance system.

Professor Mark Lutman, who leads the 30-strong team at the centre, said: "The new centre will mean we will have better quality facilities for patients and we will be able to see more patients as well as manage an ever-increasing total number of patients.

"We will also be able to increase the research we are doing to find out ways of promoting better rehabilitation for people with cochlear implants."

HOW DOES A COCHLEAR IMPLANT WORK?

The hi-tech electronic devices consist of two parts: one element is surgically implanted into the ear, and the other is worn externally like a hearing aid. The implants work by stimulating the hearing nerve directly, by-passing damaged hair cells in the inner ear.

The surgery involves the receiver/stimulator package being placed within the skull bone, just behind the ear, and the electrodes being inserted into the cochlear. The hospital stay is usually only three or four days.

Around six weeks later the device is 'tuned in'. This involves finely tuning and adjusting the speech processor to suit the individual.

Tuning is carried out by an audiological scientist using a special computer to test what the patient can hear. Several tuning sessions are required to reach the optimal settings, and for children this is incorporated into a play activity to make the sessions as enjoyable as possible.

Once patients have been fitted with an advanced hearing aid or implanted with a cochlear implant they become outpatients for the rest of their lives.

If you want to make a donation to the fund contact Steve Glasspool at the University on 023 8059 7157 or e-mail s.w.glasspool@soton.ac.uk