Introducing: MED-EL’s Adult Rehabilitation Kits

Cochlear implant recipients get the most from their device(s) if they receive rehabilitation to help the brain interpret the electrical stimulation it receives via the cochlear implant(s).  Research shows that structured, active listening practice leads to best outcomes following cochlear implantation.^{Balkany, T., Hodges, A., Telischi, F., et al. (2008). William House Cochlear Implant Study Group: Position Statement on Bilateral Cochlear Implantation. Otology & Neurotology, 29:107–108.[1]} Adults with hearing loss have an increased risk for cognitive decline.^{Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD; Kristine Yaffe, MD; Jin Xia, MS; Qian-Li Xue, PhD; Tamara B. Harris, MD, MS; Elizabeth Purchase-Helzner, PhD; Suzanne Satterfield, MD, DrPH; Hilsa N. Ayonayon, PhD; Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD; Eleanor M. Simonsick, PhD; for the Health ABC Study Group. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(4):293-299.[2]} However, auditory training has been shown to positively impact cognition.^{Ferguson, M.A., & Henshaw, H. (2015). Auditory training can improve working memory, attention, and communication in adverse conditions for adults with hearing loss. Frontiers in Psychology, 6:556.[3]}

For hearing professionals that are looking for fun, entertaining and simple-to-use rehabilitation activities that provide recipients with suitable listening practice, our newly developed Adult Rehabilitation Kits (ARKs) are here to help!

Designed to offer structured and visually appealing listening practice, the ARKs incorporate three types of goals and activities for cochlear implant rehabilitation:

1. Auditory Training: activities to retrain the auditory system with topics relevant to everyday life
2. Auditory and Cognitive Processing: The ARKs include activities designed to incorporate a range of cognitive tasks into listening practice
3. Integrating Hearing into the Lifestyle: activities to educate recipients and their families as well as support recipients to advocate for themselves in all areas of their lives.

Hearing professionals will find the kits extremely easy to use. Simply place the recipient into one of two levels and begin. There are no time consuming or unnecessary placement tests needed. You can just take the kits and get started.

Recipients will enjoy the visually appealing and interesting activities.

The first ARK titled “Who’s Who” is the first of four ARKs based around the topic of Families. In addition to this ARK, 11 additional kits will be released in the future. All will be free to download, use, and share with colleagues and recipients to support them to get the best from their device(s).

Also included here is the ‘Introductory Activities’ Kit. This is designed to get recipients started in the first weeks after device activation.

Additional Adult Rehabilitation Kits

Since this post has been published, we have also released the following additional MED-EL Adult Rehabilitation Kits in multiple languages:

Need these kits in a different language? Let us know in the comments below!