Rehabilitation

Hearing loss is a subject encountered daily by many people, but whether at work or in their private lives, some people may not understand how to approach people who use cochlear implants and other hearing devices. The MED-EL Hearing Poster series aims to bridge that gap in knowledge by providing simple, easily digestible bites of information that anyone can understand and incorporate into their daily lives.

Many of us take music and the benefits it has in our lives for granted. Music can positively impact many aspects of life, including physical health, emotional well-being, social relationships, and the rehabilitation journey of hearing implant recipients. It can lift mood and alleviate negative emotions such as stress and anxiety. It is therefore important for hearing implant recipients to be able to hear and appreciate music.

Aural rehabilitation is essential after cochlear implantation, but it can also benefit young children with hearing loss while they are still waiting to receive their cochlear implant. Parents and caregivers can use strategies and activities at home to help these babies begin to develop communication skills.

We provide a wide variety of resources for audiologists and speech-language pathologists to assist you in supporting your patients with MED-EL hearing devices on their hearing journey and in achieving their goals and communication potential.

Music is a beneficial component of every hearing implant rehabilitation program. Music can support the development of children’s listening, language, cognitive, motor, and social skills. And Musical EARS® is a resource designed for professionals aiming to include musical activities and training into the rehabilitation programs for children with hearing implants. With a holistic approach to children’s musical development, Musical EARS® demonstrates how singing, rhythm, movement, and instruments can be utilized in aural rehabilitation. Here we will highlight one part of the resource that could be included in cochlear implant rehabilitation.

What factors affect communication outcomes in pediatric cochlear implantation? Research has revealed that age at implantation, family environment, additional disabilities, communication mode, and technological and surgical factors can all influence outcomes.