Cochlear Implant Presentation Jennifer Callaway M.S. CCC-SLP Speech/Language Pathologist Grafton Elementary School John Long Middle School

What is a Cochlear Implant? A small, complex electronic device Provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing Implant is surgically placed under the skin behind the ear An implant has four basic parts: Microphone Speech processor Transmitter and receiver/stimulator Electrodes

Structures of the Ear and the Cochlear Implant Normal Ear Middle ear: Tympanic membrane Ossicular chain (Malleus, Incus, Stapes) Inner ear: Cochlea Vestibular Nerve Cochlear Implant Receiver-stimulator portion of implant is surgically placed beneath the skin Small opening made into the cochlea and implant electrode is threaded in

Who receives Cochlear Implants? Both children and adults can be candidates for implants. Approximately 59,000 people worldwide have received implants. (According to the Food and Drug Administration 2002 data) In the United States: 13,000 adults have cochlear implants 10,000 children have received them What is the cost? About $30,000 to $55,000

The Surgical Procedure Performed under general anesthesia Operation takes approximately three hours Patients generally able to go home the same day of surgery Patient not able to hear automatically ‘Hook Up’ Procedure occurs about 1 month post-implant Takes some time for the brain to get used to the stimulation from the implant Involves a rehabilitation program

Cochlear Implants vs. Hearing Aids A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sound. Cochlear implants compensate for damaged or non-working parts of the inner ear. Enable people to detect very soft speech and environmental sounds Hearing through an implant may sound different from normal hearing Types of Hearing Aids

What a Cochlear Implant Can NOT do: An implant does NOT restore or create normal hearing. It cannot replicate the same sensitivity or speech understanding in all acoustic environments as a normal hearing person. Rather, it can give useful auditory understanding of the environment and help the individual to understand speech.

Limitations and Special Considerations Physical Activities: External portion must be removed during swimming Voice does not carry well in large outdoor spaces Poor acoustics in gyms Sound bounces off walls Background noise competes with speaker’s voice

One Model: Nucleus Esprit 3G Made by Cochlear Easy-to-use controls and light weight - only 15 grams with batteries Batteries: 3 high power zinc-air batteries Battery life varies Two programs for different listening environments Built-in telecoil for access to phones and theaters Wireless access to Microlink FM Whisper Setting™ to bring soft sounds closer

What does a Cochlear Implant sound like? Normal speech Speech via Cochlear Implant (8 channel)

Troubleshooting PROBLEMSOLUTION Intermittent buzzing sound * Look for sources of electromagnetic interference including: a. Radio/TV transmission towers b. Security systems c. Some digital cellular phones No sound * Switch processor off for a few seconds and then turn back on again. * Check mode setting * Change all three HIGH POWER 675 batteries and clean battery contacts * Plug in the auxiliary microphone * Check coil using signal check Static* Plug in the auxiliary microphone Muffled or distorted sound * Remove any materials which may be covering the headpiece * Plug in the auxiliary microphone * Change all three batteries with HIGH POWER 675 batteries No sound after getting wet * Leave in Dri-Aid pack overnight * Call your implant center Intermittent sound * Change all three batteries with HIGH POWER 675 batteries * Plug in auxiliary microphone * Check coil using signal check

Any Questions?

References and Images Used ~jw/Fearnetal.html body.cfm?id=762 cochlear/hearing.htm name/coganpatient.html

Purpose of Presentation Audience: educators, parents, students, professionals Objective: Answer the following questions: What is a cochlear implant? Who benefits from a cochlear implant? How do they work? How are hearing aids and cochlear implants different? What do I do when something goes wrong? What are good communication techniques?