“Many people are surprised to learn that it takes much more than just switching a cochlear implant on for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to be able to hear,” explained Tracey.
“At Hear and Say, our team of qualified audiologists and speech pathologists work to ensure cochlear implants are successfully ‘tuned’ (or MAPped), and that the users are trained with the listening skills and techniques to use their technology in everyday environments through optimal hearing, listening and speaking.
“For example, someone might use a mini microphone when in noisy settings, such as a restaurant, to help clearly hear others speak. Another great training exercise is to practice listening when you’re alone – for example, listening to music or a podcast to help make listening through the cochlear implant feel more like natural hearing over time,” said Tracey.
The number of adults who have received cochlear implants has rapidly increased over the past decade and these numbers are expected to continue to grow. This team of researchers therefore saw the need to better understand the research which currently exists and the outcomes in this space.
