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Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement
Center for Communication Enhancement
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Home Clinical Services Habilitative Audiology Program Cochlear Implant Team Preparing for Your Visit
Flower Preparing for Your Visit
If your child is covered by a managed care plan, it will be necessary for you to obtain a referral from your child's primary care physician prior to any consultation or treatment at Children's Hospital Boston.
How do I make an appointment?
To request an informational consultation regarding a cochlear implant for your child, call
781.216.2250.

When you call you will be asked to fill out an intake questionnaire and to provide reports of previous evaluations of hearing, speech, and language if these evaluations occurred outside Children's Hospital Boston.

A visit will be arranged for you to come to Children's to learn about the cochlear implant option and to plan an evaluation of the potential benefit of a cochlear implant for your child.

What should I bring to the appointment?
Please bring any relevant audiological, speech/language, educational and medical reports with you. This information will help us determine whether there is anything obvious that would suggest that a cochlear implant is not a good option to pursue and to help our staff to suggest other possible avenues to help.
How long does the evaluation process take?
Patients frequently require multiple tests and meet with a number of specialists during the communication evaluation. Your child may meet with five or more specialists, which may require multiple visits.
What happens during the evaluation appointment?
Your child will meet with an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), audiologist, psychologist, speech-language pathologist, and possibly a developmental pediatrician.

The otolaryngologist may recommend specialized CT and MRI scans, and blood tests to determine candidacy for an implant.

What happens after the evaluation appointment?
After the appointment, the team discusses their findings with each other, and with the family, their primary care pediatrician, and their school if appropriate.

Part of the discussion will focus on the availability of an appropriate educational program and speech/language therapy for the child. These services must be in place before an implant is performed.

If the decision is made to have a cochlear implant, the staff will request prior authorization from the family's health insurance provider for the cochlear implant device, surgery, hospitalization, and follow-up services.

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