Cochlear Implant Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital Transformational for Richton Park Man “We then did a formal cochlear implant evaluation, which is simulating the real world where you wear hearing aids with full sentences. That showed he only understood 23 percent of sentences in the right ear.”
We’ve Expanded Our Birthing Center with Your Comfort in Mind When you start your family at Silver Cross, you’re in good company! In fact, more families choose our Birthing Center than any other hospital in Will County. That’s because we’ve created a unique place for special arrivals—the Women and Infant Much to his surprise, Larry Miller of Richton Park shares Services Birthing Center, where you and your something in common with The Incredible Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno. Both family are at theimplant centersurgery of everything weyear. do. Miller had his underwent cochlear earlier this at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and both agree their lives have been transformed. Miller been wearing hearing aids for 10 years, following From had the personal attention of our highly trained staff to the years of working around loud machines, despite donning ear protection. comfort and luxury of our private mother-baby suites, we’ve But even after retirement, his hearing grew worse, especially in his designed it with you in mind. Everything’s ready for you from right ear. the moment you arrive—even complimentary valet parking “Every time I would go to the audiologist, I would say, ‘Turn it and shuttle service. up,’” said Miller, 71. “He said, ‘I can’t turn them up any higher. You need to go to a specialist to see what’s going on.’” Miller found Dr. Scott DiVenere, an otolaryngologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. After running some tests, Dr. DiVenere told Miller he was a candidate for a cochlear implant, and referred him to Dr. Matthew Bartindale, an otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery – and cochlear implants. “Patients who are cochlear implant candidates don’t just have a volume issue, they also have a clarity issue,” said Dr. Bartindale. “You can think of hearing like an old analog radio; there’s the volume knob and the frequency knob. Larry’s volume knob wasn’t but that be ‘turned Each of our birthing suites has great, soft lighting andcan soothing décorup’ with hearing aids. His you’ll problem, designed to put you at ease with thoughtful touches especially in ear, was appreciate. The moment you walk in, you’ll the feelright at home. Everythe frequency knob. Even amplified private birthing suite has an easily adjustable labor bed and to a loud enough volume where labor ball available. he should have been able to understand based on his ‘volume,’ 3 New Labor/Delivery/Recovery Rooms he only understood 8 percent of To accommodate the growingwords number special at onofthe right deliveries ear and 52 Silver Cross, we’ve added 3 spacious LDR rooms to our Women percent on the left. Dr. Matthew Bartindale
About Cochlear Implant Surgery Cochlear implant surgery has been around since 1978, and the most notable case was earlier this year when former champion body builder Lou Ferrigno, better known for playing“The Incredible Hulk” onAnd television, to hear the world clearly after nearly a 12 to 15. just likewas our able existing LDR rooms, these beautiful lifetime of almost total deafness. new rooms feature a host of amenities designed for your Miller’s– decision to have thenew surgery was easier learning comfort with an important addition: large after immersion insurance, including Medicare, covers cochlear implant surgery, tubs for laboring moms. unlike hearing aids, which are not covered. During his one-hour surgery, Miller was under general anesthesia as Dr. Bartindale made a 1-inch incision (no hair trimming necessary) and placed the cochlear implant. Several weeks later, Miller received his external processor, which receives and processes sound. This connects to an internal receiver/stimulator through the skin with a magnet. The receiver/stimulator has an electrode which goes into the inner ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve. “Your brain will learn how to understand those electrical impulses when you start using your cochlear implant,” Dr. Bartindale said. “You will take the external processor on and off like a normal hearing aid, and the internal receiver/stimulator will stay in permanently.” During a test last November with his hearing aids, Miller repeated 8 percent of words correctly; after five weeks of active use with the cochlear, thatinclude: increased to 44 percent. In other tests, when Other amenities Audiologist Kristine Eubanks, who works with Dr. Bartindale, • Private bathroom • those In-room refrigerators checked his hearing again after five weeks, Miller went from 37 percent 70 percent in understanding words, • Sofatosleeper • Flat-screen TV and sentences from 23 percent to 70 percent in understanding sentences. • Glider chair • And more “I can hear the refrigerator running now; the dishwasher going,” • Blanket warmers Miller added. “I could hear my daughter texting and my dog’s nails on our hardwood floors.” Everything Peace of Mind Dr. Bartindalefor saidYour patients have most of their improvement in the first three months, continuing to improve forhours at least a year. An obstetrician/gynecologist is in-house 24 a day, 7 Miller’s volume levels are normal now, he said, as is the TV volume, days a week. Upon your arrival, you’ll be “partnered” with a his wife added. specially trained obstetrical nurse certified in electronic fetal Improvement continues not only with use, but Miller has an app monitoring who’ll assist you through delivery. Our unit also on his phone that tests his ability to hear words and sentences. features mother/baby couplet care, which means that the same “I still have a little trouble with loud background noise experienced nurse will care for both mother and baby until it is like trucks,” Miller said. “But I can hear and understand two time to go home. conversations at once again.” Miller expects his hearing be improved even better when he receives This ensures continuity in caretoand communication abetween new hearing aid for his left ear that will work in concertAtwith the the patient, family, nursing staff and physicians. cochlear implant. “Right now, it’s like they fight each other,” he said. Silver Cross, we also have several certified lactation consultants “I can hear so much more now … even some things I don’t want available for support to new moms who choose to breastfeed to hear!” their babies. They offer education and support before and after delivery as well as when you return home. For more information, visit silvercross.org
and Infant Services Birthing Center, bringing our total from
2 | Health & Fit | Saturday, November 6, 2021 Silver Cross Hospital | 1900 Silver Cross Blvd. | New Lenox, IL 60451 | 815-300-1100 | silvercross.org
