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Device Support

• Cochlear Implant mapping - Cochlear Implant mapping is the process of determining how much electrical stimulation is needed to make sounds across the frequency spectrum audible to the child.


• Hearing Instrument Evaluations, fitting and dispensing - The selection of Hearing Instruments/Hearing Aids is a highly individualized process and one size does not fit all. Through examination of the audiogram, the ear and discussion with parents, a specific recommendation is made regarding the style and size of instrument for each child. The process of fitting instruments occurs over several appointments and involves various types of verification of good “fit” of the instruments; from examination of the ear to Real Ear Verification Measures (REM).


• Real Ear Verification of Hearing Instrument Fittings - All hearing instruments fit on children should be digital in this day and age. This means a computer and very specialized software is used to program the hearing instrument. In order to program the instrument we use the audiogram to determine how much gain/power to apply in each frequency band so the child will be able to detect sound. Once the program has been calculated we must verify that the instrument is doing what it is supposed to be doing and not giving too much gain or too little gain in each frequency band for all different kinds of sounds, such as soft, medium, loud and very loud sounds. The best way to check the response of the hearing instrument is to measure what the hearing is putting out at the level of the eardrum, so while it is in the child’s ear. This is done via Real Ear Measures (REM). A visual display of the output of the hearing instrument will appear on the screen and the audiologist can then make changes to the programming to best fit the child’s Audiological needs.


• FM system Evaluations, fitting and dispensing - If the speech in noise testing, the functional listening evaluation and classroom observation reveals that the child needs more assistance in the classroom setting then an FM system may be recommended. An FM system entails additional small receivers which will attach to the child’s listening devices and a transmitter/microphone that the teacher will wear. The teacher’s voice enters the transmitter and is “piggy-backed” onto to a Frequency Modulated (FM) carrier wave which is sent out to the receivers which are attached to the child’s hearing devices. This FM carrier wave ensures that the teacher’s voice will reach the child intact and will not be interfered with by classroom noise or lose power over the distance of the room. The child will hear the teacher just as if they were standing right next to each other and will ensure good audibility.