The Parents' Guide to Cochlear Implants - Softcover

Chute, Patricia M.; Nevins, Mary Ellen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563681293 ISBN 13: 9781563681295

Publisher: Gallaudet University Press, 2002

Synopsis

Now, parents of deaf children have at hand a complete guide to the process of cochlear implantation. Written by two eminent professionals in deaf education, The Parents’ Guide to Cochlear Implants explains in a friendly, easy-to-follow style each stage of the process. Parents will discover how to have their child evaluated to determine her or his suitability for an implant. They’ll learn about implant device options, how to choose an implant center, and every detail of the surgical procedure. The initial “switch-on” is described along with counseling about device maintenance.

Most importantly, parents will learn their roles in helping their child adjust to and successfully use the cochlear implant. The Parents’ Guide to Cochlear Implants emphasizes such critical subjects as learning to listen through home activities, implants as tools for language development, and critical issues regarding school placement. This encouraging book considers the implications for performance in light of the whole child, including issues related to Deaf culture and cochlear implants. The authors also include brief stories by parents whose children have had implants that provide reassuring actual experiences to parents considering the procedure for their own child. With a last word on parenting perspectives and a rich source of resources in the appendices, this one-of-a-kind guide will arm parents of deaf children with complete confidence to make informed decisions about cochlear implantation.

About this title

About the Author

Patricia M. Chute is a professor and chair of the Division of Health Professions at Mercy College.

Mary Ellen Nevins is director of Professional Preparation in Cochlear Implants (PPCI) at Children’s Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

A cochlear implant (CI) is a system of internal and external devices that analyze and digitize sound into signals, stimulating auditory nerves in the cochlea and sending the results to the brain for interpretation. First developed in the early 1980s, CIs have been a source of controversy among the deaf, particularly when used in prelingual children. Many feel that CIs show that the hearing world sees the deaf child as a "disabled" member of the hearing community rather than an integral member of a vibrant deaf culture. In the last few years, however, there has been a slow-growing acceptance of CIs as one more tool, like a hearing aid or speech reading. For parents trying to decide whether or not their child would benefit from a CI (not all children are suitable candidates), this guide by two specialists in the education of deaf children is a much-welcomed aid. It explains the process of evaluation, device options, the surgery itself, what to expect at switch-on, CI limitations, ways to enhance language development and learning at home, school issues, and individual children's variations in response to perceived sounds. Also included is a cogent discussion of the deaf community's concerns regarding CI. Resources are included in the appendixes. Recommended for pediatric and consumer health collections.
Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp. Lib., NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gallaudet University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1563681293
• ISBN 13: 9781563681295
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200