 While Cochlear Implants in both children and adults can show amazing results, there are many situations in which a tactile aid might be the instrument of choice: Individuals who do not have a cochlea or auditory nerves Infants too young to receive cochlear implants Individuals with partial hearing losses who are not implant candidates, but have difficulty, even with the use of a hearing aid Prelingually deafened, non-auditory/verbal individuals Individuals who do not want or are unable to afford cochlear implants Individuals who are considered for implant as a means of detecting high-frequency parts of speech Finally, tactile aids can be used both with adults and children for pre-implant training. In particular, for infants, the usual minimum age guideline for implanting is 18 months to two years old. Many implant centers feel that the use of tactile aids on children for the time between diagnosis and implantation can enhance the success of the implant. AEC has a rental program designed especially for use with pre-implant individuals. Persons who will be using a tactile aid for a year or less may wish to rent rather than purchase. Implant centers or individuals can contact us for further information. The section Which Device to Get? will assist in determining which tactile aid to try. Whichever unit is chosen, initial training is important. |
Phone: 617-628-1435 |