Utah State University Enhances Hearing Impaired Program

This fall, USU will unveil Sound Beginnings of Cache Valley a $3 million initiative that will have an auditory-oral focus, concentrating on developing speaking skills rather than sign language.

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education department head Beth Foley said the program will provide an alternative for deaf children and their families, not replace the department's sign language training program.

. . .

"Parents can, and should, be able to choose how they want to communicate with their children," Houston continued. "The fact is that 95 percent of all newborns with permanent hearing loss are born to hearing parents, and with all of the advances in the field, most of these parents want to communicate via spoken language. Many parents are now choosing to get their children cochlear implants, and these children need intensive follow-up training and services to take full advantage of this technology."

University of York Scientist Join Deafness Research UK

Deafness Research UK has appointed Professor Quentin Summerfield to be its new chief research adviser.


According to Professor Summerfield:

"Hearing research is entering a very exciting period -- never before have there been so many promising lines of research which could lead to new therapies, treatments, or even cures that will transform the lives of millions of sufferers.

Cochlear Implants in Third World Countries

Dr. Muazz Tarabichi, an American Board Certified Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at the American Hospital Dubai spoke at a Deafness Week Seminar organised jointly by the College of Information Technology, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and the American Hospital in Dubai.

While describing Cochlear Implantation (CI) as 'one of the most successful, life transforming, and expensive intervention in medicine today,' Dr Tarabichi said the different CI manufacturers are unable to cater to the needs of Third World countries.

'A CI device consisting of an internal and external apparatus costs approximately US$30,000 to $40,000. A software engineer in India, for example, who could in all likelihood be involved in programming such a device, would have to dedicate his entire income for six years just for the cost of the device, while a teacher would have to dedicate his earnings for 24 years.'

Neuralplasticity Blog

Michael Merzenich, the author of article Cochlear Implant News highlighted in February

(Advances in Neural Prostheses)

has a blog worth visiting.

New Adult Cochlear Implant Program in the UK

Health and Social Services Minister announces £750,000 cochlear implant program.

Medtronic Considers Cochlear Corporation Takeover

A research note from ABN AMRO suggests that a Cochlear Corporation could be an "attractive takeover candidate" for Medtronic Inc., which is currently seeking acquisitions.

Robotic Micro-Drill for Cochlear Implant Surgery

A surgical drilling robot, developed at the Aston University is expected to lead to improved hearing for cochlear implant patients.

It has been tested on three human patients all with successful outcomes. It drills a perfect hole, the perfect size, in the perfect place and to a perfect depth.