cochelar implants

[disneyobessed]

My son is going to need to get a cochlear implant withen the next 6 mos.. we are going through all the apts now. Can anyone tell me any success stories.. or anything else we need to know the dr. may not tell us? He will be at Boston Children's. How long of a recovery is it..??

 

[bookwormde]

I do not have a lot of details, but we are working to adapt the support structures within the school enviroment to support the protocols that go along with training and adaptation that is required to fully utilize the technology. The one person I have talked to 1st hand loves his and you would never know is standard communication that he even has one. I thought that it was interesting how software upgradable they are built to be.

bookwormde

 

[disneyobessed]

thanks...

 

[Eeyore5]

Are you working with a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing? In the program I work for the, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will help parents connect with other families.

 

[disneyobessed]

Are you working with a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing? In the program I work for the, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will help parents connect with other families.

Yes we were given all sorts of resources and will be attending a conference in July.

 

[swimlib]

check out the different company's website. They normally have forums that you can contact other parents who can help you through this process...

 

[Talking Hands]

One thing to always keep in mind is that even with a CI the person is still deaf. There are times when the processor will need to be off and the possibility that the CI will fail. Speech reading is really difficult skill and even then on 25-35% of English is readable. The rest is guess work. An alternative form of communication is probably a good idea whether sign language or cued speech. Also once the child is reading C-print or other text type alternatives can be used.
I have interviewed several teens with CI and all of them said there are times when having the ability to use sign language interpreters when in high background noise situations has been a blessing. So the use of multiple methods of communication is helpful

 

[KPeveler]

One thing to always keep in mind is that even with a CI the person is still deaf. There are times when the processor will need to be off and the possibility that the CI will fail. Speech reading is really difficult skill and even then on 25-35% of English is readable. The rest is guess work. An alternative form of communication is probably a good idea whether sign language or cued speech. Also once the child is reading C-print or other text type alternatives can be used.
I have interviewed several teens with CI and all of them said there are times when having the ability to use sign language interpreters when in high background noise situations has been a blessing. So the use of multiple methods of communication is helpful

I was going to say this. CI hearing is not "true" hearing, and there are many situations where the CI must either be turned off or is not helpful (places with lots of background noise like baseball games). Static electricity can mess with them, so even going down a plastic slide can be a no-no when the device is on. Obviously things involving water as well.

I have seen a lot of kids with CIs that it worked out just fine. I have also seen cases where they failed because the hearing loss progressed or changed. I have a 9 yr old 2nd cousin who basically lost the ability to communicate with her family b/c her CIs (bilateral) failed and they had been forbidden to teach her sign, lip reading, cued speech, etc. She didnt start learning until about 2 years ago, so things got very difficult.

I understand right after a child gets the CI, it is encouraged that he does not try to use hand movements to communicate, but after a while, an alternate form of communication may be helpful.

 

[Talking Hands]

Don't get me started on hearing medical people who tell the parents not to allow sign language or other alternative communication methods for kids with CI. They are doing a disservice to these kids

 

[bookwormde]

I can understand not relying on ASL during the transition, but I to cannot understand why it would be avoided after that since it is a good language for anyone to learn, and is becoming widely accepted as a second language for educational credits.

bookwormde

 

[KPeveler]

I can understand not relying on ASL during the transition, but I to cannot understand why it would be avoided after that since it is a good language for anyone to learn, and is becoming widely accepted as a second language for educational credits.

bookwormde

Many Oral Schools and CI programs emphasize a total separation from the deaf community, even though a person is still deaf even with CIs. Unfortunately many (not all) programs make ASL and other "deaf languages" lesser or looked down on. It comes from as far back as Alexander Graham Bell, who created the oralist method. Deaf people who could not learn to read lips and speak were often classified as "mentally retarded" and left in institutions.

Obviously, things have changed, but some of the stigma still applies.

I am quite familiar with Boston Children's, and I am sure that this program is not nearly so one-sided. Boston hospitals are excellent.

 

[shystalips]

My daughter had her 1st implant @ 13 months old and had her 2nd implant last april. She is now 7 years old. I would be happy to answer any questions you would have if you send me a pm. I must say that getting her the CI's was the best decision we could have ever made. My daughter had her implants done at CHOP and they have a spectacular CI program. We were actually just there yesterday for her mapping appointment. Looking forward to talking with you.

 

[Pluto.AuD]

Usually if children are implanted at an early age, they greater chance for success with spoken language. This is because the brain is still developing and absorbing new stimuli and making sense of what it means. I don't agree that learning ASL will be a detriment to language development. After all, hearing parents of hearing kids are teaching them "baby signs".

Talking Hands is correct when she says they are still deaf or hard of hearing. You should still employ good communication strategies with them (look at them when talking to them, make sure your face is visible, good lighting, etc.). Parents sometimes think CIs are a "cure" or a "quick fix" to make their kids "normal". This is absolutely false. Even those "success stories" invested lots of time and work in speech and auditory training.

My sincere apologies for all the quotation marks.