Description
Advanced technology has made possible a wide array of assistive devices for the hearing impaired. Among these are cochlear implants, a device that combines electrodes surgically implanted into the inner ear (cochlea) with an external sound processor. The implant can restore hearing by stimulating the hearing nerve directly with electrical impulses, effectively bypassing a non-functional inner ear. In this program, Nikolas Blevins, M.D. and Jannine Larky, M.A. discuss the technology of the devices, their effectiveness, and the appropriate candidates to receive them. Dr. Nikolas Blevins specializes in disorders of the middle ear, inner ear, facial nerve, and skull base. He is the Director of the Stanford Cochlear Implant Center, which is dedicated to the application of the most advanced technology to hearing restoration. Dr. Blevins has an active research interest in innovative surgical methods and the application of computer technology to surgical education and preoperative planning. Jannine Larky, M.A. is an audiologist who has worked with pediatric and adult cochlear implant patients for over 15 years. She oversees the clinical and daily operation of the Stanford Cochlear Implant Center and sees patients on a regular basis, providing the full range of services to cochlear implant candidates and recipients. Jan holds licensure in both audiology and hearing aid dispensing. She has many published peer reviewed articles and has presented widely on cochlear implantation.

Better Hearing Through Advanced Technology