Cochlear Implant Program
The Cochlear Implant Program at Children’s National Medical Center provides expert advice and care for patients and their families throughout the process of cochlear implantation, from initial screening to post-operative support. The Cochlear Implant Program is part of Children’s Division of Otolaryngology (ENT) and works in close collaboration with Children’s Division of Hearing and Speech.
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that helps to transmit electrical stimulation to the inner ear as an aid to hearing. Only certain children with severe hearing loss in both ears are candidates for this type of device.
As of mid-2007, more than 80 patients have been implanted and are being followed by the Cochlear Implant Program. At any time, the program serves many patients who are at different stages of the process.
Children’s Cochlear Implant Program team members are fluent in Spanish and interpreters are available for every session. All of the audiologists in the program are skilled in American Sign Language (ASL). The program also has speech language pathologists that have auditory-verbal training in addition to more traditional therapy.
Conditions Treated
The Cochlear Implant Program is one treatment option for patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
About 1 out of 22 babies are born each year in the United States with a hearing impairment. Without screening or testing, hearing loss may not be noticed until the baby is more than 1 year old. If hearing loss is not detected until later years, there will not be stimulation of the brain's hearing centers. This can affect the maturation and development of hearing, and can delay speech and language. Social and emotional development and success in school may also be affected.
Because of these risks, many health organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend universal infant hearing screening. This means all newborn babies should be screened for hearing loss. Most often, the parents are the first to detect hearing loss in their child.
Children's Cochlear Implant Program’s skilled multidisciplinary team evaluates and treats children with all levels of hearing impairment. They recommend that children be screened and if hearing loss is diagnosed, treated according to the following timetable:
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By 1 month
| All infants’ hearing should be screened |
| By 3 months: | If infant failed 1-month hearing test, should have a diagnostic hearing test by 3 months
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By 6 months: | If needed, begin treatment of hearing loss.
Treatment may include:
the fitting of hearing aids
enrollment in early intervention rehabilitation services
a medical work-up
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By 12 to 18 months: | Cochlear implantation for those children diagnosed with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss and determined to be good candidates for the procedure. |
Who should have a cochlear implant?
Cochlear implantation is meant for those individuals who do not derive benefit from conventional hearing aids. It is intended for those patients diagnosed with bilateral (in both ears) severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss caused by damage to the sensory cells and/or nerve fibers of the inner ear).
The Cochlear Implant team at Children's determine who is a good candidate for a cochlear implant based on several criteria, including audiological, medical, developmental, and psychosocial factors.
To determine whether a child is a candidate for cochlear implantation can require multiple visits, including:
- assessment by a pediatric otolaryngology (ENT) physician
- follow-up and treatment by an audiologist, including hearing aid trials
- assessment by a speech therapist
- evaluation by social services of psychological and social support available
What is the post-operative experience of a patient with a cochlear implant?
After the implant of the cochlear device, Children’s Cochlear Implant Program continues to support the child and his/her family in achieving success in hearing and language development. Post-operative services include:
- auditory habilitation/rehabilitation
- language intervention
- coordination between parents, schools, and the implant center
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