(Re)Habilitation Connect Forum Friday, May 20, 2022 | 1:30-5PM ET FLYER |  |
As the ACI Alliance has grown in number and in reach, awareness of the need to engage and support therapy practitioners and educators in a better way has also grown. The forum is a featured event at CI2022 DC and will emphasize clinically-applicable, research-based information presented by experts. Following the presentations, we will Continue the Conversation at a reception allowing attendees to interact with speakers and other attendees. Registration information for CI2022 DC can be found at www.ci2022dc.org.
Special Education Services for Infants and Children with Cochlear Implants: What is Appropriate?
Research on parent and professionals needs to support children with CIs has driven the development of support materials to address common questions about what services are needed as well as how to handle transitions.
Marguerite Vasconcellos, Ed.D., LSLS Cert. AVT
Retired Director of Itinerant Services, Bucks County Intermediate Unit and currently Adjunct Professor, Drexel University, School of Education |  |
| Andi P. Hill, Parent, Advocate
Alabama ACI Alliance State Champion
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Maximizing Cochlear Implant Adult Outcomes with Short-term Aural Rehabilitation (AR) Intervention
New research on AR suggests strategies and recommendations for adults in clinic and telehealth settings as well as pre and post assessment measures.
 | Claire Marcus Bernstein PhD, Co-Principal Investigator. Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, Department of Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences, Gallaudet University |
| Nancy J. Muscato AuD, Rehabilitation Audiologist/Clinical Instructor, Retired, University of South Florida Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Tampa, Florida |  |
 | Diane Majerus Brewer MA, Co-Principal Investigator, Contributing Author. Associate Professor Emerita, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, George Washington University |
While increasing numbers of adults who receive cochlear implants (CI) achieve high levels of speech perception and quality of life, there remains a proportion of CI users whose speech perception ability is still quite limited. Other CI users function well in optimal conditions but find that their CI is not sufficient when facing demanding communication situations. For these CI users, aural rehabilitation (AR) may be critical to optimize CI benefits.
Although there is evidence to support AR for individuals with hearing loss, there is a lack of controlled studies with adult CI users, and in particular studies that assess comprehensive time-feasible AR programs that include both auditory training and psychosocial counseling. Our multi-site clinical study found significant improvement in cochlear implant outcomes, including speech recognition, communication and psychosocial function, with just 6 weeks of aural rehabilitation training. Our study provides evidence that we can maximize outcomes with a short-term AR intervention protocol. This has clinical implications for use in best practices with adult CI users. Strategies and recommendations for adapting this research AR protocol for both in-clinic and via telehealth will be presented including candidate selection, components, materials, and pre/post assessment measures to determine the effectiveness of AR treatment with adult CI clients.
| Continue the Conversation reception sponsored by Hearing First |  |
Forum Coordinating Committee:
Amy Lynn Birath AuD, CCC-A/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd
The Moog Center for Deaf Education
Ivette Cejas PhD
University of Miami
Heather Grantham PhD
Central Institute for the Deaf
Naama Tsach PhD
Haifa University
