An opera singer who hid her deafness for more than 30 years has described “life-changing” surgery that has the potential to become the norm for thousands of NHS patients. Janine Roebuck, 72, from London , had double cochlear implants fitted to restore her hearing, a method now being trialled nationwide to see whether it can transform the lives of thousands more people. Under current guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the vast majority of deaf adults are only eligible for one cochlear implant. This is based on analysis suggesting that offering two is not cost effective for the NHS and a lack of evidence in the area. To address this, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which receives government funding, is backing a study into two implants for adults, led by Addenbrooke’s hospital and the University of Cambridge.…