Perspectives on Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation

Editor's Column

Erdman, S. A. — 2013-01-18T07:27:09-08:00

Coordinator's Column

Gagne, J.-P. — 2013-01-18T07:27:09-08:00

Considerations in Mapping Young Children With Simultaneous/Sequential Bilateral CIs: Case Studies

Vasil-Dilaj, K., Brackett, D. — 2013-01-18T07:27:09-08:00

In this article, we present three case studies of young children with profound sensorineural hearing loss who received bilateral cochlear implants. In each of these cases, specialists suspected interference between the ears. The audiologist and speech-language pathologist determined that the children had better auditory function and speech and language production when wearing 1 speech processor as opposed to 2 speech processors. In many pediatric implantation cases, experts verify the device fitting in the bilateral condition because infants and toddlers at the prelanguage level are unable to provide specific input during mapping sessions. The cases we describe herein highlight the need for individual ear verification at early stages of speech and language development. In addition, based on these cases, we propose mapping changes that can be made to optimize binaural listening for speech and language development.

Building a Cochlear Implant Practice: Five Lessons Learned

Lobdell, A. M., Dansie, J. E., Ferguson, S. H. — 2013-01-18T07:27:09-08:00

Cochlear implants are becoming available to an increasing proportion of the deaf and hard-of-hearing population. As interest in and success with cochlear implants has grown, more and more private practice clinics are incorporating them into their scopes of practice. Over the past 2 years, the first 2 authors of this article have been heavily involved in developing cochlear implant programs in separate otolaryngology private practices. A recent conversation about this process revealed several common experiences and lessons learned. During these same 2 years, the third author began teaching the cochlear implant course at the University of Utah. Although her audiology and speech science background gave her extensive knowledge of the science behind cochlear implants, she had no clinical experience with them. The first author took this course the first time the third author taught it, and the experiences and insights she shared with the third author during and since the course have been an important component of the third author's personal education in the clinical aspects of cochlear implants. In this article, the first 2 authors share 5 things we wish we had known when first beginning their work with cochlear implants.

The Ida Institute Toolbox: Tools To Enhance Collaborative Self-Management of Hearing Problems

Gregory, M. — 2013-01-18T07:27:09-08:00

Researchers have described a paradigm shift, in which the profession of audiology can move towards a more patient-centered approach (Hickson, 2012). In this article, I will describe a collaborative approach used at the Ida Institute to create patient-centered tools to promote this paradigm shift. I describe three counseling tools—A Possible Patient Journey, the Goal Sharing for Partners Strategy and the Living Well tool—as part of a collaborative self-management toolbox to promote patient-centered care in the clinic.