Rehabilitation & aftercare
Individual rehabilitation programmes
after a CI operation
for adults and children
Your path to hearing with a cochlear implant
The path to a CI begins with sound counselling:
We clarify with doctors, parents and those affected whether a CI fitting makes sense. In doing so, we take into account both Medical requirements as well as Individual developments. If the central hearing system is intact, the from the sixth month of life be implanted. We work closely with specialised clinics in Berlin and accompany you through preliminary examinations, surgery and rehabilitation. Regardless of the type of implant or clinic, our services are open to everyone - for safe and comprehensive care.
We accompany you holistically -
From the first consultation to lifelong aftercare
Counselling
Parents who suspect or know that their child does not hear or has difficulty hearing should contact us directly, a hearing advice centre, their paediatrician or an ENT doctor. If your child has been diagnosed with a hearing impairment, we will start working with you.
We endeavour to give you support in this difficult situation, provide you with the best possible information and give you comprehensive advice about the CI and hearing and speech development after the CI fitting. We will carry out further examinations and monitor your child's development together with you. Based on this individual development to date, we will give you our opinion on expectations for the time after the CI fitting.
We work with you to prepare the interdisciplinary decision on CI treatment.
Operation and prerequisites
Prerequisites
Hearing with a CI is only possible if the central auditory pathway is intact. The central auditory pathway refers to all nerve structures from the inner ear to the brain. And it is extremely rare for these to stop transmitting. What no longer functions properly in the vast majority of hearing impaired or practically deaf people is the conversion of movement (sound) into electrical impulses in the inner ear.
Therefore, if this condition is met, we recommend a unilateral or bilateral CI fitting for Children from the age of 6 months, who suffer from bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and for whom a bilateral hearing aid fitting is either of little or no benefit.
We also recommend CI fitting for adult patients, who became hard of hearing in the inner ear after learning to speak and only achieve a limited hearing gain even with an optimal hearing aid fitting.
The operation usually requires a three-day inpatient stay. In preparation for the operation, a thorough preliminary medical examination takes place in the clinic. You should allow 1-2 days for this. A unilateral CI operation takes between 90 minutes and two hours, a bilateral operation three and a half to four hours. We work closely with various clinics in Berlin. In addition, our rehabilitation programme is open to all children, adolescents and adults who have been fitted with a CI, regardless of the implanting clinic and regardless of the type of implant.
Rehabilitation of children & adolescents
The rehabilitation programme at the CIC includes the following:
- Consultation before the CI operation
- Child-friendly hearing measurements
- CI adjustments & checks
- Listening and language support according to the natural listening approach
- Supporting parents and strengthening positive parent-child interaction
- Training in the use of CI technology and testing of accessories
- Day-care centre and school visits with instruction for educational staff in dealing with the needs of hearing-impaired children and providing information about CIs
- Progressive diagnostics of hearing and speech development
- Assessment of the level of cognitive development
- Music therapy
- Social counselling
Rehabilitation of adults
- Consultation before the CI operation
- Individualised hearing and articulation training adapted to personal needs and goals (based on the bio-psycho-social model (ICF))
- Restoration of social and occupational participation through therapy content relevant to everyday life
- CI adjustments & checks
- Development of listening tactics / communication strategies
- Sound and speech audiometric progression diagnostics
- Training in the use of CI technology and testing of accessories
- Bimodal fitting (hearing aid and CI) from a single source
- Counselling for relatives
- ENT check-up / check of the vestibular system
- Music therapy
- Social counselling
Rehabilitation of senior citizens
In addition, the CIC offers Group programmes for working people and senior citizens and a single-sided deafness (SSD) group for patients with single-sided deafness. As part of various group programmes and activities, there are opportunities to interact with other relatives and patients and to get to know other children and parents.
You will always find up-to-date information on this in our Group offers and on the notice board in the foyer of the CIC.
Social counselling
Our social counselling is aimed at children and adults with CIs and their relatives. We cater to the individual needs of our patients and support them in their special situation. The focus here is on the special legal and psychosocial situations of people with hearing impairments. Our social counselling activities focus on the following areas, among others
- Social law issues: clarification and enforcement of your claims and rights
- Support programmes in schools, daycare centres and other facilities
- Professional reorientation - changes through and with hearing impairment
- Psychosocial counselling - support with personal and social problems
Environment - Referral to specialised counselling centres
Our counselling is confidential, independent of nationality and religion and open to all patients of the CI Centre. Our close co-operation with various facilities for people with hearing impairments enables us to provide holistic treatment. Integration into an interdisciplinary network during and after rehabilitation is often beneficial for psychosocial development and coping with the illness. Together, we determine the needs and provide counselling for those affected.
Aftercare
Lifelong aftercare and check-ups
We continue to be there for you even after the actual rehabilitation has ended. You can come to us if you need a check-up of your CI system, if your hearing has deteriorated or if a defect has occurred in your speech processor that you cannot rectify yourself. Your health insurance provider will authorise at least one appointment per year.
Our therapy groups
For children and adults with hearing loss
In our therapy groups we promote exchange, mutual support and shared learning in dealing with the cochlear implant. The groups are tailored to different ages and life situations.
Cochlear implants from various manufacturers
We focus on your individual needs and medical requirements - regardless of the implant type. As Manufacturer-independent centre we offer you the opportunity to select the right CI system for you together. We provide you with comprehensive support: from technical fitting to therapeutic aftercare.
Hear again, live again!
Patients share their experiences
Everyday life with two cochlear implants
Living with a deaf child and cochlear implant
New hearing quality with a cochlear implant
Linda 12 years old: My path to a cochlear implant
„Your path to better hearing starts here.“ Individual counselling for cochlear implants with our experts
We endeavour to give you support in this difficult situation.
You will receive comprehensive counselling and information about the CI and hearing and speech development after CI fitting.
Specialist for ENT medicine