Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program What Is a Cochlear Implant? A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic medical device which can help to restore a sense of sound to a person with severe to profound hearing loss. Composed of a surgically implanted part and an external part worn behind the ear, the implant offers a way of hearing when hearing aids no longer provide useful benefit.
From the Director Our cochlear implant team is dedicated to helping people with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. In combination with advanced medical technology, our team brings individuals into a world of hearing laughter, ringing telephones, music playing, expressions of love, shouts of enthusiasm, and words of encouragement. With the gift of sound, these patients can engage more readily in those activities they enjoy with this technology. – Sarah Mowry, MD
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Team Sarah Mowry, MD George F. Harris IV, MD Marc LeDuc, PA-C Stephanie A. Barrett, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA
How Does a Cochlear Implant Work? Because of its sophisticated and technological capabilities, a cochlear implant behaves very differently than a hearing aid. While hearing aids can provide amplified sound, they may not deliver the clarity necessary to understand speech. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged portions of the inner ear and delivers a signal to the auditory nerve. The auditory portions of the brain perceive this signal as sound.
Sarah King, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA Brian Shirley, CPNP Keith Axelson, Audiology Assistant
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program Medical Office Building, 4th floor 1447 Harper Street Augusta. GA 30912 706-721-4400 (phone) l 706-721-9052 (fax) grhealth.org/cochlear-implants
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program 706-721-4400 (phone) l 706-721-9052 (fax) grhealth.org/cochlear-implants
Facts
Becoming a Candidate
•E ach year, between 100-200 children
•B efore being considered a candidate,
identified with hearing loss in Georgia are cochlear implant candidates.
• I mplanting a deaf child results in education savings of $80,000-130,000 per child. •W hen implanted early, almost all children have educational and work success that almost mirrors their peers. • When children are born with hearing loss, they are automatically enrolled in Medicaid. •C ochlear implants are approved for patients with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. Patients must also have no benefit from hearing aids. •C ochlear implants were first approved in 1985 by the FDA, and since then, over 70,000 individuals in the U.S. and 200,000 worldwide have received cochlear implants.
one must complete medical, audiological, psychological, and communication evaluations.
•A ll candidates must have recent experience with hearing aids. • Cochlear implant surgery is performed as an outpatient surgery under general anesthesia and takes between 2 - 3 hours. A small amount of hair may be shaved behind the ear - it will grow back. • The risks are the same as those associated with any major surgery requiring general anesthesia. • Complications can occur but are uncommon.
How You Can Help a Child Hear While there are a number of reimbursement efforts in progress, we need the generous support of donors to continue our expert care. We welcome any and all contributions and donations to the Otology Fund. Please specify fund 1170.
•C ochlear implants are a covered health benefit by most insurance carriers including Medicaid and Medicare. • Cochlear implantation ranks as one of the most cost-effective medical procedures currently available. The average cost of implantation is around $40,000 for a unilateral procedure and a bilateral procedure is $100,000, depending on the individual.
Your donations are appreciated!
•A udiologists, speech language pathologists, and otologists all work together to help recipients in their ability to detect and understand speech with their new implant.
Contact Us
• We offer all three brands of cochlear implants currently being manufactured.
Cochlear Implant Coordinators:
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 706-721-4400.
Georgia Regents University Office of Advancement 1120 15th Street FI-1000 Alumni Center Augusta, GA 30912
Marc LeDuc, mleduc@gru.edu or 706-721-7573 Brian Shirley, bshirley@gru.edu or 706-721-6387 All Images Courtesy of MED-EL