Medical advice

Ear infections

If you / your child have/has an ear infection on the implanted side, contact us for advice.

If it is on the non-implanted side, please contact your family doctor (GP).

Depending on your / your child's symptoms, we will arrange an appointment or a call/email from a member of our medical team, or advise you to see your GP.

If you cannot contact us, or travel to the John Radcliffe Hospital, contact your GP.

If there is an ear infection, treatment with antibiotics and/or topical ear drops is advised.

Please let us know if your GP prescribes antibiotics.

If you have seen the GP, and the infection hasn't settled within 24 hours, or you are concerned, please contact us.

If there is swelling and/or pain behind the ear or over the implant magnet, then it is very important that you contact us.

Vaccinations

With Cochlear Implantation there is a very small but slightly increased risk of meningitis.

Everyone with a Cochlear Implant requires vaccination against pneumococcus, which works to protect against pneumococcal meningitis.

All adults and children with Cochlear Implants should check with their family doctor (GP) that vaccinations have been completed.

Children

All children should be vaccinated with Prevenar 13 as follows - this is part of the standard routine vaccination programme that all babies receive.

Children under one year of age:

• First dose of 0.5ml of Prevenar 13
• Second dose of 0.5ml two months after the first dose
• Third dose of 0.5ml

Children over one year of age and under five years of age not previously vaccinated:

A single dose of 0.5ml of Prevenar 13 is indicated

All children over two years old should also be vaccinated with a single dose of 0.5m of PPV (Pneumovax).

If they have not previously received Prevenar 13, they should have this first.

Adults

All adults should be vaccinated with a single dose of 0.5m of PPV (Pneumovax).