USING TELEHEALTH TO DELIVER SPECIALIZED SPEECH THERAPY TO CHILDREN WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS

1. USING TELEHEALTH TO DELIVER SPECIALIZED SPEECH THERAPY TO CHILDREN WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, LISTENING FOR LIFE, LISTEN FOUNDATION Rex E. Gantenbein, Barb Robinson, Dale Alverson, Arlene Stredler Brown, Gary Kahn, Anu Sharma, Joanna Stith Results • Background Findings Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that provide a sense of sound to a person with hearing loss and residual auditory nerve function. Cochlear implants work by stimulating auditory nerves inside the cochlea rather than amplifying sound as do traditional hearing aides. There is evidence that delivery of therapy is most effective before seven years of age (Sharma, et al, 2007). Auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) requires parents & caregivers to integrate listening & spoken language development into daily life (Easterbrooks, et al, 2000). The availability of practitioners certified in AVT is extremely limited, especially in rural areas. There are six certified practitioners in CO, two in NM, none in WY. Discussions with participants indicate high satisfaction with the therapy sessions, despite initial technical issues. Baseline data on the child’s auditory development will be compared to measures taken at regular intervals through the therapy period to observe the maturation of his auditory system. Associated Research Dr. Anu Sharma, Ph.D., CCC-A, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO. Dr. Sharma's has examined issues related to brain development in children with cochlear implants. She is interested in examining cortical maturation in children with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants and in children who are fitted with hearing aids. Dr. Sharma is exploring issues related to sensitive periods for central auditory development & cortical re-organization. She is developing clinical biomarkers for auditory cortical maturation. • Objective Our objective is to evaluate delivery of high-quality therapy to children who might otherwise not have access to it, with the long-term goal of carrying out clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of telehealth therapy in distance & face-to-face environments. Acollaboration with the Universities of CO, WY & NM was established to evaluate the ways telehealth can be used to improve access to speech/language therapy for rural children with cochlear implants. • Method This study was initiated with a Wyoming child and his parents participating in weekly AVT through videoconferencing connection to a certified AV therapist in CO. In additional to doing qualitative evaluation with the therapists, we are planning to measure the child’s clinical biomarkers to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy via videoconferencing. Literature Cited Contact information Easterbrooks, S.R., O’Rourke, Todd, N.W. (2000). Child & family factors associated with deaf children’s success in auditory-verbal therapy. American Journal of Otology, 21:341-344. Rhoades, E. ((2006). Research outcomes of auditory-verbal intervention: Is the approach justified? Deafness & Education International. 8(3): 125-143. Sharma, A., Gilley, P.M., Dorman, M.F. & Baldwin, R. (2007). Deprivation-induced cortical reorganization in children with cochlear implants. 46: 494-499. Dr. Rex Gantenbein, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY Rex@uwyo.edu Arlene Stredler Brown CCC-SLP, CED University of Colorado, Boulder, CO Arlene.Brown@Colorado.edu