Using data from over 72,000 individuals to model age-specific increase in service demand from the 2019 modification to NICE criteria for cochlear implantation.

• The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has estimated a 70% increase in demand resulting from the 2019 modification to cochlear implant criteria • We modelled the projected increase using our large database of pure tone audiometry results, and adjusted for frailty as a marker of risk of general anaesthesia • Our results suggest an overall 79% increase in demand, with most of this for adult implantation, and in particular for those over the age of 65 • Our findings are important for those planning delivery of cochlear implant services