Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is a special type of hearing aid that is surgically implanted. These aids may be used by adults who were born deaf, or who have become profoundly deaf. Children born with profound deafness, or progressive hearing loss, may also be candidates for a cochlear implant following assessment by a specialist team on a cochlear implant programme.

Depending on when the device was first implanted, cochlear implant users may have:

• difficulties understanding speech, especially in noisy surroundings
• problems producing intelligible speech
• significant difficulties with all aspects of speech, language and literacy
• skills in a sign language or sign-supported communication

Specialist speech and language therapists are often involved with multi-professional teams working on cochlear implant programmes. Therapy may begin before the individual receives the implant, and continue throughout the assessment process.

For an adult, therapy will continue for a limited period after surgery. For a child, therapy may be needed throughout the preschool and school years. The specialist therapist on the cochlear implant team would also be involved with ongoing review and monitoring.

The following may form part of therapy input for those with a cochlear implant:

• all aspects of the development of communication skills with specific emphasis on:
  • auditory training and listening skills
  • speech intelligibility and voice work
  • vocabulary building
  • understanding and use of grammar
  • following speech without sign
• parent-child interaction therapy and social skills work
• deaf awareness (for family members, school staff or employers)

(Deaf children are, of course, no less susceptible to speech and language difficulties unconnected with hearing status than hearing children so some children may need more special help.)

Some points you may wish to discuss with any therapist you contact:

• The therapist's specialist credentials in the area of cochlear implants. (There are different training courses provided by e.g. The Ear Foundation; or Auditory Verbal Therapy courses leading towards AVI Certification from Auditory-Verbal International.) The therapist may have completed a post-graduate diploma in working with the hearing impaired. Ideally, the therapist should also have acquired training and a good level of skill in BSL (British Sign Language). The therapist should have a broad general experience of working with hearing impaired children (or adults where appropriate).
• If you are already involved in a special programme (e.g. Auditory Verbal Therapy Programme), you may wish to talk to the therapist about that.
• How much experience the therapist has with people with a cochlear implant.
• Where the therapist sees people for assessment/therapy.
• How much the therapist charges for assessment and/or regular therapy.

Click here to search for Speech Therapists in your area with Cochlear Implant as a specialty.