Our program is committed to advancing the field of hearing loss management. We participate in clinical trials to evaluate new devices, and our program is part of the federally funded Childhood Development after Cochlear Implant study, aimed at defining variables that contribute to successful performance with a cochlear implant.

Your child will be evaluated and cared for by a multidisciplinary team who specializes in hearing loss and rehabilitation. Each team consists of a Pediatric Neurotologist (a surgeon with specialty training in disorders of the ear) a pediatric audiologist and a certified auditory-verbal speech-language pathologist.

We will work with you to understand the long-term follow-up care that is required, provide guidance on the available implant systems, and discuss the outcomes we expect your child will receive from a cochlear implant. Our goal is to support you through every step of this process.

Candidates for cochlear implants should have:

• Moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
• Little to no benefit from hearing aids, following an adequate period of training and experience with their use
• Evidence of a functioning auditory nerve
• The ability to provide a conditioned response to auditory or vibrotactile (detection of sound through touch) stimuli
• Family stability and support
• Motivation and willingness to learn to use the implant
• An educational/rehabilitation program that emphasizes auditory skill development
• No other medical issues that would prevent surgery

Schedule an appointment by calling us at 734-998-8119 or you can email us at [email protected]

Your child will be evaluated and cared for by a multidisciplinary team who specializes in hearing loss and rehabilitation. Each team consists of a Pediatric Neurotologist (a surgeon with specialty training in disorders of the ear) a pediatric audiologist and a certified auditory-verbal speech-language pathologist.

Testing for candidacy includes a standard hearing test, specialized speech recognition tests, and imaging of the inner ear for structural evaluation.

We will work with you to understand the long-term follow-up care that is required, provide guidance on the available implant systems, and discuss the outcomes we expect your child will receive from a cochlear implant. Our goal is to support you through every step of this process.

Surgery

Surgery for a cochlear implant is almost always done on an outpatient basis, with only a small incision hidden behind the ear. Extensive shaving of the hair is not required. A 4- to 6-week period is required to allow adequate healing of the incision site, and then the internal device can be linked with the external processor and turned on. During the activation, the device is adjusted and tuned by an audiologist using a computer. The patient then returns one week later for further programming to monitor any changes in hearing. Monthly visits to the implant center for programming may be necessary until hearing stabilizes. Patients typically return for fine tuning of the device about 6 times during the first year and annually thereafter.