Cochlear Implant Mapping

MOSD Audiologists provide therapy each day to children who have cochlear implants. During these sessions, children learn to use the auditory information provided through the cochlear implant in order to learn to listen, and to talk. MOSD students receive cochlear implant mapping and monitoring on site. To date MOSD has served over sixty children with cochlear implants. In 1990, the FDA authorized cochlear implantation for children with severe to profound hearing loss. Currently, children as young as 12 months of age receive cochlear implants, usually in both ears. The cochlear implant bypasses the damaged area of the inner ear, directly stimulates the auditory nerve and provides hearing sensations to those deaf children who do not benefit from conventional hearing aids. Many of these children are experiencing hearing for the FIRST time in their lives. This miracle is not the result of the implant alone. Specialized training is needed to enable these children to interpret the new sounds which they hear. Cooperative planning between the medical and educational settings is essential in assuring the success of these children. Memphis Oral School for the Deaf is committed to providing educational resources to the medical community.

In addition, MOSD can provide educational back-up and outreach services to any child with a cochlear implant in the Mid-South area. Cochlear implant mapping and monitoring services are also available on an out-patient basis for children not attending MOSD. Elizabeth Domico, M.S., CCC-A, formerly the cochlear implant program coordinator at Shea Ear Clinic, joined the MOSD staff in January 2000. She has worked with cochlear implant patients since 1985 and has had extensive experience programming cochlear implant systems. On-site cochlear implant programming at MOSD allows the teachers, therapists, and Ms. Domico to evaluate and refine a child's speech processor program to achieve maximum benefit. Ms. Domico also provides programming and assessment services to area children not attending the school.

For more information about cochlear implant services at MOSD, please contact Ms. Domico at 901-531-6728.