Educational management of children with cochlear implants

During the last decade, the technology of assistive hearing devices for hearing-impaired children has improved significantly. Improvements in hearing aids and the introduction of cochlear implants and wearable tactile aids for children have made spoken language available to more deaf children and have changed the techniques for teaching listening and speaking skills. In June 1990, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Nucleus 22 channel cochlear implant for use with children. As a result, it is expected that more children will be implanted and, consequently, that the teachers and audiologist in the schools in which they are enrolled will need to learn to manage the devices. Since the Nucleus 22 cochlear implant does not restore normal hearing, children will continue to need instruction in listening and speaking. Furthermore, school personnel, who will be responsible for caring for and monitoring the implants, will have to learn how to maintain the devices. This article outlines some procedures for maximizing the benefits that profoundly deaf children can achieve with the cochlear implant.