Illinois State University Program for Cochlear Implant Kids

Illinois State University announced Tuesday that the university has received a $778,941 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to train teachers, speech pathologists and audiologists throughout Illinois on how to work with children who have cochlear implants.

The grant will bring together 70 teachers and therapists from throughout Illinois who work with hearing impaired children from birth to age three, Lartz said. The teachers and therapists will learn how to work with the children and their families who want to use spoken language in addition to sign language, she said.

At the two Illinois locations where cochlear implant surgery takes place — Carle and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago — teachers will be allowed to observe surgeries and therapy.