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CNI's Center for Hearing programs are often featured in the CNI REVIEW – a medical journal – and in IN TOUCH, a patient newsletter.
In addition, the CNI Center for Hearing publishes two issues of its newsletter Have You Heard... each year, with information about regional, national, and international community outreach programs. Visit our newsletter page to read more.
Sign up to be on the mailing list or e-mail NPyle@TheCNI.org to order a copy.
CNI's Center for Hearing has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the optimization of hearing for children with significant hearing loss. The FDA recommends that children with severe to profound loss who score 30% or poorer on a speech perception test be considered for cochlear implantation. Since the implant procedure often eliminates residual hearing in the implanted ear, the FDA guidelines were established to insure that only those children who were not demonstrating functional benefit from a hearing aid be considered for the procedure. Unfortunately, these guidelines may prevent children who scores are marginally above the guideline from benefiting from this technology. Since 1997, 17 such children, ranging in age from 4 to 17 years, who did not meet conventional FDA guidelines have been evaluated for implant candidacy. Based on years of research, it was believed that these "borderline" children could expect to receive dramatically better access to soft speech sounds, particularly high frequency consonant sounds, through an implant as compared to hearing aids. In turn, this improvement would result in significantly better understanding of words, overall communication and academic performance.
At a recent international conference, post-operative data from these 17 "borderline" children were contrasted with those from 36 traditional pediatric implant recipients. The study examined the speech perception scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after receiving a cochlear implant. Significant improvement was noted between the pre-operative and post-operative scores for all 17 children. Additionally, the "borderline" children obtained better speech perception results more quickly than traditional pediatric candidates.
The following is a closer look at one such "borderline" child...
In 2005, Alexis Schilling's parents and teachers reported that she was having difficulty in classroom situations, particularly with social interactions. Alexis was becoming withdrawn, and not her typical, outgoing, friendly self. Hearing tests indicated that she had a progressive loss…she was being plunged into a world of silence, and the change was frightening and confusing. As a high academic achiever, Alexis became very sophisticated at compensating for her loss. But the energy required to do so was taking its toll.
When
Alexis was seen in the clinic, she scored 72% on tests of common words
administered in a sound booth. While this exceeded the FDA recommendations,
her parents maintained that the test results did not reflect the difficulty
encountered by Alexis in more typical learning situations such as constant
exposure to new vocabulary and noisy listening environments. When given
tests that simulated those additional challenges, Alexis scored less
than
25%. It
was clear that her progressive loss would significantly impact her
ability to learn and thrive in the classroom and the world. Therefore,
although
Alexis exceeded the FDA recommendations in some conditions, her struggles
in other
conditions convinced her parents, audiologist and surgeon that she
would, indeed, benefit from a cochlear implant. And, her health insurance
company
agreed and covered the procedure.
Just three months after beginning to use her implant, Alexis was again tested on common words, as well as more challenging vocabulary in noisy conditions. This time, she scored 100% and 84%, respectively. Perhaps more importantly, her personality changed. Alexis was once again the confident, out-going, social little girl that her parents remembered. This technology had a truly profound impact on a child's sense of self-esteem and confidence as well as facilitating her ability to learn in a noisy classroom environment. For Alexis, her self-confidence has grown so much that she recently spoke to a group of parents and professionals describing how much the implant has helped her.
While FDA guidelines are important when considering a cochlear implant, a multi-disciplinary team must also carefully weigh the needs and challenges of individual patient. In the case of Alexis, the decision to provide her with a cochlear implant has made all the difference in the world.
Swedish Medical Center Auxiliary hosted a fundraiser Fashion Show and Tea through the American Girl, Inc. Association on Saturday, October 28th. This special event for girls and their dolls was held at the Columbine Country Club. The event offered an educational and entertaining look at how generations of American girls have used their clothing to express their own unique styles and personality. The Fashion Show showcased local girls, (including some of our CNI Center for Hearing Cochlear Implant patients), ranging in ages from 9 to 12 modeling both historical and contemporary clothes from the American Girl Inc. collection. Even more exciting – the money raised from this event was donated to the CNI Cochlear Kids Camp.
There is a health crisis in the works, yet very few people are aware of it. We are living in a noisy world, and it is taking its irreversible toll on our sense of hearing. As we turn up the music, use leaf blowers, attend concerts, and listen to our iPods, the damage is invisible. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common hidden disability in America today and it develops so slowly and insidiously that we don’t recognize it until it is too late. The amount of environmental noise has doubled each decade for the past 20 years and estimates are for continued increase in the “noisy world syndrome”. Hearing damage occurs when loud sounds destroy the sensitive tiny hair cells of the inner ear. Once 20-30% of these cells disappear, hearing loss becomes noticeable.
More than 28 million Americans currently have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness, and as the current population ages, the number is expected to climb as high as 78 million over the next 25 years. Baby boomers are developing hearing loss in our 40’s and 50’s rather than 60’s and 70’s as our parents did. Some causes of hearing loss are unavoidable, but noise-induced loss can clearly be prevented. There are 5.2 million children in US between the age of 6 and 19 who already have some degree of noise-induced hearing loss, and this number is rising daily. In a recent survey of young adults, 66% reported having tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or hearing loss, but only 8% were “concerned about hearing problems”.
Noise-induced hearing loss can result from an acute blast of sound, but the much more common cause is hours of exposure each day. At the center of the current crisis is the Apple iPod. Latest estimates show there are 42 million iPods on the market. One only has to watch the high schoolers getting off the bus in the morning to realize the huge impact this technology is having on the youth of today. The iPod has been blamed for noise-induced hearing loss for several reasons. First is the fact that the iPod can play music at 120 decibels, and after just 7.5 minutes at this level, damage can occur. The iPod digital technology and ear buds are of such high quality that even at high volume, there isn’t the distortion that in the past would cause us to turn the music back down. Because the ear buds don’t occlude the canal, the background noise has to be overridden by the iPod volume essentially adding to the already noisy world we live in.
Numerous musicians are now discussing their noise-induced hearing loss in an effort to educate young people about the dangers. In 1989, Pete Townsend admitted he had sustained very severe hearing loss as a result of years of loud music exposure. The list of others now discussing their hearing loss includes Bruce Springstein, Neil Young, Ted Nugent, Mick Fleetwood, Sting, and Jeff Beck. Education is the key to prevention and numerous coordinated efforts are underway to educate the youth of today so they don’t become the deaf of tomorrow.
Touching lives, changing the future... more than just a mantra, these words are the very essence of the CNI Center for Hearing led by Dr. David Kelsall. Thanks to the incredibly generous donors and sponsors who support our program, these words define our work throughout 2005.
In early spring, the Center's World Hearing Network hosted a mission of volunteer medical professionals to the rural community of Comitan, Mexico. During this intensive week, more than 100 desperately poor patients were treated for hearing loss and diseases of the ear. In addition, local medical personnel were trained, and vast amounts of supplies and equipment were donated for future patients.
In June and August, nearly 500 participants took part in the CNI Cochlear Kids Camps. Internationally renowned, these camps provide a warm, nurturing environment for profoundly deaf children with cochlear implants, and their families, to share challenges and triumphs with others who understand their daily struggles. Our Teen Program also sponsored many events for hearing impaired youngsters who face the added burden of a hearing loss in addition to the everyday challenges of modern adolescence.
Throughout the year, our Cochlear Implant Assistance Program provided implant systems to children and adults from coast to coast who cannot afford insurance for this life-changing procedure. And, we doubled the scope of our Angel Network which helps provide rehabilitation therapy to patients struggling to gain the skills of hearing following implantation.
As we look forward to 2006, we are keenly aware of the multitudes of patients whose lives wait to be touched and whose futures can truly be changed through the compassion and generosity of our sponsors. From your heart to theirs, please join us as we make a difference, one patient at a time.
CNI
REVIEW Medical Journal's Spring 2005 Focuses on Hearing and Cochlear ImplantsThe Spring 2005 issue of CNI's medical journal, CNI REVIEW, is dedicated to discussing the issues related to hearing disorders and cochlear implants. Written by physicians and other team members, the articles include:
Read these articles online now. This issue of the CNI REVIEW is provided in PDF format online.Send e-mail to NPyle@TheCNI.org or call us at (303) 788-4010 to request a paper copy.
What a difference a year makes! Just 12 months ago, the CNI Center for Hearing team, under the leadership of Medical Director Dr. David Kelsall, was dreaming of ways we could expand our programs and services to help more individuals in the deaf and hearing impaired community. Now, a year later, we are delighted to report that some dreams do come true, thanks to many of you who generously helped with your financial gifts.
The CNI Cochlear Kids Camps, always a huge success, grew in 2004 to include even more activities, workshops and presenters. Nearly 100 families from 28 states across the US and Canada came together at the YMCA Family Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado for these annual 4-day/3-night events that bring profoundly deaf children with cochlear implants and their families together to share success, make friends and build self-esteem. Parents and children alike were delighted to find others who truly understand both the excitement and challenges associated with cochlear implants. And once again, parents told us how vital it is for their "children to have a place where they can just be themselves and forget about being deaf or different." Two camps are planned for 2005 - one in June at Estes Park and the second in August at Winter Park. Families are asked to pay approximately 25% of the cost of the camps with the balance coming entirely from donations.
The Center for Hearing also made advances in the Cochlear Implant Assistance Program in 2004 by expanding the number of individuals who received no-charge implant systems, donated by Cochlear Americas and coordinated by CNI. To date, uninsured or underinsured recipients have ranged in age from 2 to 45 years of age and represent a geographic diversity from Georgia to Montana, including several from here in Colorado. Chuck, a young man who received his cochlear implant via our program, wrote to express his thanks, "I feel so much more confident; it is exciting to hear sound again. Music also sounds good and I am using the telephone! I will forever be grateful for your role in this miracle for me." With continued financial support, the outstanding results of this program will increase to help greater numbers of worthy recipients.
Xalapa, Mexico was the site of another kind of miracle, thanks to the efforts of the World Hearing Network. This dedicated team of health professionals expanded their mission of helping third world countries by traveling to Xalapa. In this rural community where poverty is rampant, grateful residents stood in line for hours to receive desperately needed medical care from the surgeons, nurses and audiologists. In addition to treating patients, these volunteers donated equipment, supplies and medicines, and taught local professionals the skills and techniques needed to serve their communities long into the future. As always, these deserving patients received their care absolutely free of cost, thanks to donations from CNI supporters.
The Hearing Aid Assistance Program significantly expanded its scope to offer more no-cost hearing aids to Colorado adults and children who need the technology but cannot afford the costs which are often excluded by most insurance companies. Joyce, a local resident, recently sent her thoughts about the program: "I want to thank you for my hearing aid. I came home the other day wearing the aid and I couldn't believe what I was hearing...the birds were singing as loud as an orchestra. It was just beautiful! I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your help." The program gratefully accepts new or used hearing aids from individuals and organizations and welcomes your help in reaching out to more fellow citizens in need.
Expanded efforts were made in 2004 to further develop the criteria and scope of the Angel Network, an innovative program which helps with the costs of speech, language or auditory/verbal therapy often vitally needed by adult and pediatric recipients following their cochlear implant procedures. Plans are underway to increase the marketing of this program in 2005 in an effort to find donors willing to help provide funds as well as locate appropriate recipients.
Finally, 2004 saw another expansion in the form of the new Teen Thing Program. Underwritten by private and corporate contributions, the Teen Program offers a wide variety of events and activities for hearing impaired youth in the local community. These opportunities for young people to gather, have fun and learn from each other are invaluable and will continue with your financial support.
As 2004 draws to a close, we hope that you are inspired and motivated by
the many good works accomplished this year by the CNI Center for Hearing.
Consider how you can help "end the silence" and change a life. Your donation
can turn dreams into reality for individuals in your community and around
the world.
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Colorado Neurological
Institute Center for Hearing
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