Phase 1 : Initial consultation and evaluations |
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Some tests your child may undergo :
• ENT consultation
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Throughout your journey , you ’ ll have access to a |
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• Speech-language |
team of multidisciplinary |
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evaluation |
specialists including |
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• MRI |
audiologists , |
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• CT |
otolaryngologists , speech |
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• Social work consultation |
language specialists , |
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Start here You have been referred to us |
First , you ’ ll meet with an audiologist to introduce cochlear implants and answer any questions you may have . We ’ ll conduct |
Meeting with family resource and / or teacher of the deaf / hard of hearing |
teachers of the deaf / hard of hearing , social workers , |
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hearing tests to confirm your child ’ s diagnosis and you ’ ll meet |
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by your child ’ s care team for |
• Ultrasound child life specialists , |
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Then , our cochlear implant team | ||||
with the rest of the team to learn more about the process and | ||||
cochlear implants . Together we ’ ll | ||||
• Eye exam will review your child ’ s case to make a family resource | ||||
expected outcomes . Our work around cochlear implants is a | ||||
discuss your child ’ s diagnosis and | ||||
team effort , and we are dedicated to understanding your child ’ s |
• Neurology exam recommendations and , if appropriate , coordinator and more . |
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determine best next steps for your | ||||
create a plan for surgery . | ||||
needs and overall health holistically . | ||||
child and family . | ||||
• Developmental exam | ||||
Our audiologists will walk through your hearing technology options and help to pick out any external equipment that will best suit your child ’ s needs . |
Before surgery , our team will also help prepare families to properly use equipment and share more about the surgery process , outcomes and expectations , and follow-up care . |
Once you ’ ve selected your hearing device , we ’ ll schedule your surgery . At this time , we ’ ll confirm your child is up to date on required vaccinations and help schedule Phase any appointments 5 : Activation if boosters or additional vaccinations are required . |
Our child life specialists are here to offer additional support and to help reduce any anxiety a child may feel in preparing for implantation . |
Phase 3 : Surgery |
Phase 4 : After surgery |
Surgery lengths vary depending on the complexity of your case but be prepared for a long day . Our surgeons take extra care to ensure that their work is done meticulously to achieve the best outcomes for your child . |
Depending on your child ’ s case , they may be able to go home the same day as their surgery or might stay with us for the night . |
Most kids have minimal pain after surgery , and many bounce back quickly , but some may require a little extra care and time . We will work with you and your child to determine what they need . |
Phase Your child 6 : Ongoing will have a big hearing cup support Your child and will maintenance follow up with over their ear with bandages an ENT specialist about 10 to protect the incision .
• You days ’ ll after visit our surgery cochlear to check implant
in audiologists on how things our are Audiology healing . Clinic 4-6 times a year for the
first year , and 1-2 times a year after that .
• Your child will see a deaf / hard of hearing therapist regularly ( weekly , biweekly or monthly ) beginning shortly after activation to help them make
After surgery and implant activation , sense of sounds with their we ’ ll continue working with you to new technology . ensure your child ’ s level of hearing and speech is progressing .
• We ’ ll continue to check the internal device to make sure things are working properly .
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Our team will also work closely with your child ’ s school to make sure your child ’ s implants are tech ready and that your child continues to meet their developmental milestones . |
Your child ’ s external device will be replaced every 3-7 years , while the internal device may need to be replaced once or twice in a lifetime . |
Our support is long-lasting and ongoing . We ’ ll continue to offer school support , social support , emotional support and more as needed . |
We have a team who offers both in-person and telehealth visits for speech and listening therapies to increase access for families across the region . |
Phase 7 : Enjoying life with a cochlear implant |