by Michi Diller, AuD

Quick Tips: Virtual Surgical Support

July 8, 2024

Here is a fact that may surprise you: Cochlear has been providing Virtual Surgical Support since 2014! We have a world-class surgical team with exceptional experience who are available and dedicated to assist surgeons and operating room (OR) staff before, during and/or after Cochlear surgical cases.

What areas of support does our virtual surgical team provide?

Real-time OR surgical support for Cochlear’s hearing implants including Cochlear™ Nucleus® Systems, Osia® Systems and Baha® Systems
Pre-Surgical planning prior to a procedure
Post-Surgical discussions
SmartNav and intra-operative diagnostic support

Virtual support from Cochlear’s surgical team provides flexibility when in-person assistance isn’t possible. Their expertise reinforces existing knowledge, addresses questions promptly, and contributes to outstanding results in the operating room.

Visit our online booking page to schedule surgical support. We also suggest bookmarking this webpage for easy access in the future.

How the Lend an Ear Program can provide your pediatric bone conduction patients early access to sound

May 14, 2020

You know that early access to sound can make all the difference for your pediatric patients. The Cochlear™ Lend an Ear Program was created for children 12 and under who need early access to sound through a bone conduction solution.* Our unique program enables you to fit your patients with a Baha Start System using a Baha® 6 Max Sound Processor while the insurance approval process takes place. With this program, your patients gain access to critical sounds as early as possible to help them hear, learn and develop essential communication skills.

Why choose the Cochlear Lend an Ear Program? It is:

Designed for early access to sound. Allow your pediatric patients to meet their hearing needs as soon as possible, prior to obtaining insurance authorization.
Designed for convenience. Once insurance approval is obtained, the technology is your patients’ to keep with no further need for equipment exchanges or fitting appointments.
Designed for optimal hearing performance. We’ll provide your patients with a Baha Start System. This includes a Baha 6 Max Sound Processor, along with the choice of a non-surgical wearing option (Softband or SoundArc™) and an accessory.
Designed to provide premium power. Our Baha 6 Max Sound Processor delivers more power with a fitting range of up to 55 dB SNHL in the same small size as other 45 dB devices and features our most advanced sound processing technology and direct streaming with a compatible smartphone.
Designed for peace of mind. Patients can use warranty services that include processor repair and access to one-time theft & loss coverage while insurance approval is pending.
Designed to suit your clinic practice and patient needs. Get started with the Lend an Ear Program by choosing the insurance billing option that works best for your clinic and patients:
- Option 1: Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Services bills insurance
- Option 2: Your clinic bills insurance

Get started

Get started with Option 1: Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Services bills insurance

Discuss the program with your patient and caregiver using the Lend an Ear counseling resources.
Submit the order to reimbursement@cochlear.com by completing the following two forms with your patient’s caregiver so you can easily customize the order depending on what suits your patient the best:
- Lend an Ear order form
- Initial Patient Acknowledgement Form
Your patient’s sound processor will be shipped in a matter of days!
We’ll reach out to you and your patient for additional documentation after we ship the device, including a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), clinical documentation and any other documentation necessary to complete the order.
Once insurance approval is obtained, we’ll ship your patient’s system accessory and full ownership of the device will be transferred to them.

Get started with Option 2: Your clinic bills insurance:

Discuss the program with your patient and caregiver using the Lend an Ear counseling resources.
Submit the order to procare@cochlear.com by completing the following form with your patient’s caregiver so you can easily customize the order depending on what suits your patient the best:
- Lend an Ear order form
Your patient’s full Baha Start system will be shipped in a matter of days!
You’ll follow-up with insurance to obtain approval.

To learn more about the Lend an Ear Program visit AudiologyOnline or email reimbursement@cochlear.com.

* The Cochlear Lend an Ear Program is offered in the United States only and is for pediatric patients who are new to a non-surgical bone conduction solution.

In the United States and Canada, the placement of a bone-anchored implant is contraindicated in children below the age of 5.

The Cochlear Baha 6 Max Sound Processor is compatible with Apple and Android devices. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility

Why aural rehabilitation following cochlear implant surgery is key

February 11, 2021

By Abraham Jacob, MD

Aural rehabilitation, or hearing therapy, following implant surgery is instrumental to auditory redevelopment. We see with our brains, we smell with our brains and we hear with our brains, but unfortunately our brains can overcorrect in areas when utilization isn’t warranted. If an individual isn’t applying the areas of the brain devoted to hearing, the brain may in fact dedicate those resources normally committed to such to address other needs. It may even revert to support other senses such as vision. Many seeking cochlear implantation have retreated into silent worlds – for many years and perhaps even a decade. Dedicated, daily listening practice after implantation is required to push the brain forward and reconnect to sound.

Therapy approaches may vary from patient to patient depending on the severity and timing of the hearing loss. With any type of therapy, it may take some time to see improvements and the length of time devoted to such varies depending on whether the individual was able to use a hearing aid in their ear before cochlear implantation. The availability of opportunities patients had for listening and conversation with the hearing aid is also integral.

Impact of consistent aural rehabilitation

Regular hearing therapy during the first few months following surgery can be beneficial and should be started immediately after initial activation of the sound processor. Just like knee or hip surgery, if one does not tend to the appropriate physical therapy, especially early on, the ability to achieve full range of motion with a new joint and walk affectively are simply not as good as if the effort is put in at the onset.

Patients should be directed to expose themselves to sound-rich environments, particularly environments with much speech input. This is critical to making progress with their cochlear implants. If patients don’t re-engage orally with their friends, family and other loved-ones, the implant may not be as effective. For example, if one spends only 30-60 minutes of time in sound-rich environments in a 12-14-hour day, there may still be no progress.

There needs to be a concerted effort by the individual to expose themselves to sound a good portion of the day. The device alone will not provide the long-awaited sound the patient will appreciate.

Insights

The data logging feature of the sound processor will provide the patient and audiologist with insights into the actual “air time” or use of the device and the patient’s exposure to sound enriched environments, making it easy to track therapy efforts and optimize further clinical practice or direction.

There may be times when an implanted patient will want or need to do some refresher therapy as well, such as following an upgrade to new cochlear device technology, or when adding additional accessories to improve their listening experience in various environments such as noise or music appreciation.