Cochlear Implant Caregiver Tips
Has your child or the older adult in your life recently received a cochlear implant? Help make adapting to their improved hearing a success with these tips from the Johns Hopkins Listening Center.
1) Caregivers should encourage recipients to use their cochlear implant during all waking hours to reach their hearing potential.
2) Conduct a daily listening check to ensure proper functioning of the cochlear implant.
3) Help implant recipients practice listening by using the “Auditory Sandwich” model: Provide information auditory stimulus, repeat with visual information, and repeat the auditory.
4) Encourage recipients to request repetitions or clarification when they are unsure of what they have heard.
5) Ask The Listening Center for information about assistive listening devices such as t-coils, FM systems, and captioned phones.
6) Help recipients attend regularly scheduled programming and rehabilitation appointments.
7) Minimize visual cues during listening practice to strengthen the newly acquired sense of hearing.
8) Encourage recipients to form small information and support groups with other cochlear implant recipients.
9) Frequently look over all of the equipment for any signs of wear and tear and wipe it clean daily for optimal functioning.
10) Playing card games is a fun was to practice listening!
Find tips for adults living with a cochlear implant.
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about cochlear implants.
Meet some other patients who have received a cochlear implant at the Johns Hopkins Listening Center.
Four of Tracy and Josh Huegel's five children were either born deaf or became deaf as a baby. Meet the family who received the gift of hearing at the Johns Hopkins Listening Center.
Meet Carol Rudy, a grandmother who got a new lease on life when she received a cochlear implantation at the age of 72.