Determining the Benefits and Challenges of Cochlear Implants for Children with Combined Hearing and Vision Loss
Children Who are Deaf-Blind with Cochlear Implants
Help from Parents:
How to keep the processor on your child.
One of the most common challenges parents of children with multiple disabilities face with the cochlear implant is keeping it on their child's head. The processor has a coil that attaches to a magnet that has been surgically implanted under the scalp. The processor then tucks neatly behind the ear. But for children who aren't walking, or have malformed ears, the processor may not stay on as the manufacturers intended. Many creative parents have adopted solutions to help with this issue including sweatbands, bandannas, earmolds, hats, and others.
If you have a solution you would like to share that is not mentioned here, please email dbcimom@gmail.com.
Carver's Mom uses a bandana to help keep the coil and processor in place. Watch the video for her step-by-step instructions.
Bobby's Mom utilized a sweatband while in the highchair to keep him from knocking the coil off as he rolled his head against the chair.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education-Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities (CFDA 84.327A). Grant H327A080045; Project Officer, Maryann McDermott. Opinions express within are those of the project/author and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.
Another way to help keep the processor on is to have a skeleton earmold made. The earmold attaches to the ear hook and keeps the processor on the ear.
