The importance of the joint work of an audiologist and a teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing subjects for the adjustment of the cochlear implant systems

Abstract

Cochlear implantation (CI) is a combined multistep technique designed for the rehabilitation of the young and adult patients suffering either from deafness or from hearing impairment. The method includes, among other components, the diagnostic stage intended to select the candidates for CI, the surgical treatment, and the stage of rehabilitation. The objective of the present study was to develop a new model of the elective cooperation between an audiologist and a teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing subjects for the purpose of adjustment of the cochlear implant systems in the sequential and simultaneous manner during the planned sessions for the customizing and correction of the programs for the speech processors including the work in the so-called «live sound» regime. The study has shown that all the children involved demonstrated a considerable improvement in the abilities to recognize by ear words and phrases during the conversation (from 50±15% before to 80±12.5% after the correction) as a result of the joint work of an audiologist and a teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing subjects for the adjustment of the cochlear implant systems and the elaboration of the optimal stimulation programs.