Tag Archives: Cochlear Implants

Hearing with Two Ears: A Balancing Act

There are a lot of reasons, research, and rationale to support the need for bilateral amplification for people with hearing loss.  It’s pretty much a “given” at this point in our field, though, sadly, there are still some insurance companies and even hearing healthcare professionals who lag behind the curve.  What should you consider ifContinue reading “Hearing with Two Ears: A Balancing Act”

Map Your Way to Better Speech

Common “knowledge” says that hearing happens with the ears and speech happens with the mouth, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  In reality, the loop between our ears, brain, and mouth creates an integrated cycle.  We only speak as well as we hear, and we only hear as well as our brain processesContinue reading “Map Your Way to Better Speech”

Cochlear Implants, Residual Hearing, and Hybrid CIs

“When you get a cochlear implant, all of your natural hearing is destroyed.” This used to be the common wisdom: get a cochlear implant, forgo any residual hearing (hearing that you have without the use of hearing devices).  Today, however, less traumatic surgical techniques and improved electrode arrays have proven this to be untrue.  What is theContinue reading “Cochlear Implants, Residual Hearing, and Hybrid CIs”

FAQs about Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, and Auditory Verbal Therapy

When you meet someone new, one of the first questions we tend to ask is, “What do you do?”  When I tell people that I teach children with hearing loss to listen and speak, it’s a real conversation starter.  Here are some of my most frequently asked questions about hearing loss, hearing technology, and Auditory VerbalContinue reading “FAQs about Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, and Auditory Verbal Therapy”

Busting the Myth of “Cochlear Implants Don’t Work”

Opponents of cochlear implants, or CI skeptics, or even those who are neutral but uninformed often parrot the lines that “Some people just don’t do well with cochlear implants.”  They say, “Not everyone gets the same results.”  I’ll agree with them on those statements — they’re right.  Unfortunately, we do still see large variability in theContinue reading “Busting the Myth of “Cochlear Implants Don’t Work””

Why Not Baby Signs?

Even parents who have chosen a listening and spoken language outcome for their children often ask, “Should we use baby signs?” just to fill the gap during the time from identification to cochlear implantation, or identification to those first spoken words.  If you’re to believe the media hype, every parent, those of children with and withoutContinue reading “Why Not Baby Signs?”

What to Expect On Activation Day

The day you’ve been waiting for is finally here!  After the process of candidacy assessments, choosing a device, and surgery, it’s finally time to activate the cochlear implant.  I’ve written before about what to expect in the first few week’s after a child’s CI is activated, but what should you expect on your child’s activationContinue reading “What to Expect On Activation Day”

Sources of Funding for Hearing Technology and Rehabilitation

Decades and centuries ago, learning to listen and talk used to be a privilege reserved for the select few — children whose families could afford costly travel, private tutors, the best hearing technology.  Today, the reality is vastly different — NO child should EVER be denied a chance at listening, speaking, and a quality education justContinue reading “Sources of Funding for Hearing Technology and Rehabilitation”

What Do I Do With Old Hearing Equipment?

What should I do with previous generations of CI processors that I have around the house? A family member passed away and now I have her hearing aids.  Who could use them? What should I do with extra batteries, cables, and accessories that I don’t need anymore? My child recently got bilateral CIs and doesn’t need hisContinue reading “What Do I Do With Old Hearing Equipment?”