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Cochlear Implants
Strickland Ear Clinic offers comprehensive services to evaluate and make referrals to neuro-otologists for children and adults to receive cochlear implant devices. Cochlear implantation is one of the most innovative treatment options available for a child and/or an adult with profound deafness or hearing loss.
To become a candidate for cochlear implantation, a child/adult is assessed by a team of specialists including audiologists, otolaryngologists, sometimes called ENT's (for ear, nose and throat specialists). Tests include high resolution scans to examine the structure of the ear, extensive hearing evaluations, and evaluation by a variety of other specialists such as a psychologist, geneticist, speech-language pathologist and surgeon.
If the evaluation suggests cochlear implantation surgery is the appropriate treatment for a child and/or an adult, Dr. Strickland will make an appropriate referral for a neuro-otolaryngologist surgeon and will provide the activation of the cochlear implant device as well as supervise a thorough follow-up program of support for the child and family. The program provides guidelines and support for teachers and other educational personnel who work with the child on a regular basis.
Read the personal stories of people who have cochlear implants here
Are You A Candidate?
If you are an individual not helped by hearing aids, with no procedure-adverse medical problems, and who will be able to get treatment for continued work on your hearing skills, you are encouraged to contact us and explore your candidacy for Cochlear Implants.
To become a candidate for cochlear implantation, a child/adult is assessed by a team of specialists including audiologists, otolaryngologists, sometimes called ENT's (for ear, nose and throat specialists). Tests include high resolution scans to examine the structure of the ear, extensive hearing evaluations, and evaluation by a variety of other specialists such as a psychologist, geneticist, speech-language pathologist and surgeon.
Pediatric Cochlear Implants
Children have auditory verbal therapy needs post implant. A specialized type of therapy is designed to teach your child to use the hearing provided by a cochlear implant. We help him or her understand speech, learn to talk, and more.
If the evaluation suggests cochlear implantation surgery is the appropriate treatment for a child and/or an adult, Dr. Strickland will make an appropriate referral for a neuro-otolaryngologist surgeon and will provide the activation of the cochlear implant device as well as supervise a thorough follow-up program of support for the child and family. The program provides guidelines and support for teachers and other educational personnel who work with the child on a regular basis.
What Is Auditory-Verbal Therapy?
Auditory-Verbal Therapy is a specialized type of therapy designed to teach a child to use the hearing provided by a hearing aid or a cochlear implant for understanding speech and learning to talk. The child is taught to develop hearing as an active sense so that listening becomes automatic and the child seeks out sounds in life. Hearing and active listening become an integral part of communication, recreating, socialization, education, and work.
- The philosophy of Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) is for deaf and hard of hearing children to grow up in a regular learning environment, enabling them to become independent, participating, and contributing citizens in the mainstream society.
- AVT is a parent centered approach that encourages the use of naturalistic conversation and the use of spoken language to communicate.
- AVT is an approach that emphasizes the use of residual hearing to help children learn to listen, process verbal language, and to speak.
- AVT maximizes the use of the child’s aided residual hearing for the detection of sound.
- The earliest possible identification of hearing loss with immediate fitting with amplification, as well as prompt intervention helps to reduce the extent of language delays commonly associated with hearing impairment.
- AVT is based on teaching parents, during their child’s individual therapy sessions to emphasize residual hearing and interact with their child using the auditory-verbal approach.
- AVT encourages interaction and mainstreaming children from the beginning with normal-hearing peers.
- Participation in playgroups, library hours, and attendance in community schools can provide children highly motivating natural language models.
- AVT teaches the child to develop self-monitoring skills.
- The child learns to listen to his/her own voice as well as to others during natural conversations thereby promoting natural voice quality.
- AVT follows a logical and critical set of guiding principles. The parent, therapist, and child engage in play activities that teach the child to his or her amplified residual hearing to learn auditory-verbal communication like children with normal hearing.
AVT Is…
- Learning through listening
- High expectations for listening
- Providing clear speech
- Providing natural language
- Parents as teachers
- Individual therapy
- Conversation based
AVT Is Not…
- Learning through visual cues
- Expecting the child not to hear
- Speaking too loudly or softly
- Speaking with simple language
- Parents as observers
- Group instruction
- Drill based
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