For children with hearing loss, access to sound is a crucial step in the journey to listening and speaking.  Many children benefit from hearing aids, which amplify sound, and when paired with intensive education and speech-language therapy, they can develop spoken language.  But for children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids usually are not powerful enough.  For these children, cochlear implants are often an option.

The Center’s Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program consists of a multidisciplinary team of audiologists, speech-language pathologists (Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists), a social worker and educational consultant, as well as otolaryngologists (ENTs) in the community.  We are a full-service cochlear implant facility that evaluates children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss to determine if they are an appropriate candidate for a cochlear implant.  Our program collaborates with Dr. C.Y. Joseph Chang, Dr. Daniel Franklin, Dr. Soham Roy, Dr. Sancek Yuksel and Dr. Ronald Vilela to provide the surgical component for all three cochlear implant manufacturers: Advanced Bionics , Cochlear Americas and Med-El

Our goals are to provide the best possible care for every child and family, to educate other professionals who interact with implanted children, and to conduct research into improving outcomes with this technology.

What is a cochlear implant?

Who are The Center for Hearing and Speech Cochlear Implant Team Members?

What is involved in the cochlear implant candidacy process?

What happens after surgery?

How often do children need to return for follow-up services?

What is a cochlear implant?

The cochlear implant is an electronic device that can provide auditory sensation by bypassing the damaged hair cells within the inner ear and stimulating the auditory nerve directly. The Food and Drug Administration has approved cochlear implants for children as young as one year old and recently, Medicaid has lowered their qualification age from 18 months to one year, allowing more children to be implanted younger.  As we know, the sooner a child receives intervention and has access to this type of technology, the sooner their speech and language will develop.

Who are the Center for Hearing and Speech Cochlear Implant Team Members?

THE CHS COCHLEAR IMPLANT TEAM

Director of Audiology: 
Jennifer Wickesberg, Au.D., CCC-A, F/AAA, LSLS Cert. AVT

Cochlear Implant Team Coordinator:
Kate David, Au.D., CCC-A, F/AAA

Pediatric Audiologists:
Laura C. Baysinger, Au.D., CCC-A , F/AAA
Christine Schafer, Au.D., CCC-A, F/AAA

Director of Intervention Services:
Michael Douglas, M.A., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT

Educational Liaison:
Sara Norwood, M.S., CCC-SLP

Parent Support:
Rosalia Vazquez, LCSW, LCDC, RPT-S

PHYSICIANS: 

What is involved in the cochlear implant candidacy process?

COCHLEAR IMPLANT CANDIDACY EVALUATION

Audiologic Evaluations- Audiologist

Comprehensive Hearing Test

• To determine the type and degree of hearing loss

Cochlear Implant Evaluation (Testing is performed with hearing aids)

• To determine if the child meets audiologic criteria for cochlear implantation
• To address concerns about hearing loss and goals for improving communication
• To discuss the benefits and limitations of cochlear implants as they relate to each individual

CHIPS Assessment

• To identify concerns and establish therapeutic goals for achieving the best possible outcome with a cochlear implant

Speech-Language Evaluation- Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Testing

• To access current receptive and expressive language, as well as speech production skills

CHIPS Assessment

• Before  this evaluation can be scheduled, you must complete and return the speech intake packet

Parent Support- Rosalia Vasquez, LCSW, LCDC, RPT-S

• To provide information regarding group support services as well as names of implant recipients to contact, if desired by the family
• To perform a psychosocial evaluation
• CHIPS Assessment

Educational Consultation- Kristi Ferguson, M.Ed, CED

• To assist in establishing a challenging but successful academic and auditory environment
• To establish a cooperative partnership between the child’s school personnel, our implant team and parents, so that all individuals are well-informed and working together to meet the child’s needs
• To assess necessary involvement from Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) and/or Auditory Impairment (AI) specialists
• CHIPS Assessment

Medical Evaluation- Cochlear Implant Surgeon

• To determine the health status and ability to undergo surgery
• To rule out medical contraindications

CT Scan/MRI- Cochlear Implant Surgeon

• To evaluate the ear’s internal structures in order to determine viability for implantation
• To recommend which ear to implant

Cochlear Implant Team Meeting- We will review factors important for successful cochlear implant use. Recommendations are made in favor of or against cochlear implantation. If a cochlear implant is recommended, a counseling appointment and surgery date will be scheduled.

Cochlear Implant Counseling- We will review with the family the candidacy decision, provide information about the surgery and expectations, and discuss the cochlear implant devices.

What Happens After Surgery?

What happens after surgery?

Two weeks following surgery, the child will return to The Center for Hearing and Speech for the initial stimulation and orientation of all of the external equipment. The initial stimulation appointment, also called the initial “hook-up” or “activation,” involves fitting the child with the external equipment (speech processor, transmitting cable/coil) and programming or “mapping” of the device. The delay between surgery and the initial stimulation is necessary to allow the incision to heal and any swelling to subside. The initial stimulation is the first time that the child will hear with their new cochlear implant.

How often do children need to return for follow-up services?

How often do children need to return for follow-up services?

After cochlear implantation surgery, you and your child will return to The Center for two, consecutive, half-day initial stimulation appointments.  Follow-up mapping appointments will then be scheduled for two-weeks and one month after the initial activation.  Depending on how your child is adjusting to his or her new equipment at this point, mapping and testing will typically be reassessed at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 2 years post-initial stimulation.  However, it is not uncommon to need interim mapping sessions between these appointments for young children, for troubleshooting, or for more detailed assessment of a problem area.  After two years of successful cochlear implant use, children will often be able to transition into a annual cochlear implant checks.