Research published this year shows online music training helps cochlear implant recipients to hear some of the most difficult tasks in music perception: pitch discrimination and timbre identification. Cochlear implant recipients find it difficult to perceive pitch and timbre and their ability to perceive complex stimuli, such as music, varies widely. So, in what the … Continued
Hearing loss may be an invisible after-effect of military service, but it’s not without consequence. Evidence shows the serious impact that hearing loss can have on physical, mental and emotional well-being when left unaddressed. But it’s only in recent years that hearing loss and related issues have gained mainstream attention and this extends to our … Continued
Announcing electronic invoicing! We are pleased to announce that we have chosen a new, paperless electronic invoicing solution to add convenience and flexibility for our customers. Starting in November 2019, we will transition to an electronic invoicing process. Moving to electronic invoicing will avoid stacks of paper, speed up receipt of your invoice and allow … Continued
Early lessons in communication Reflecting on my path to becoming an audiologist and in keeping with Audiology Awareness Month, I wanted to share my journey and shed some light on audiologists’ vital role in hearing health. For the first 15 years of my life I was raised in Jamaica. Although I have been in the … Continued
Using your insurance benefits to replace your current sound processor may be a good option if you have already met your health insurance plan deductible, or if you know that you will have additional medical expenses coming up in the last half of the year. Your deductible is the specified amount of money that … Continued
Building a passion for volunteering in the community Since my teenage years I’ve always been passionate about volunteering. I believe it is my life’s calling. Being a volunteer for Cochlear, along with other local community organizations, has fulfilled my life in ways that cannot be put into words. And volunteering at the HLAA Walk4Hearing 2019 … Continued
Written by: Dennis S. “For a star to be born, there is one thing that must happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse. So collapse. Crumble. This is not your destruction. This is your birth.” — Zoe Skylar This quote is one that I recently found, but it describes how my adult life has gone, minus … Continued
Some examples of parts and accessories that are generally covered by insurance are cables, coils, magnets, and rechargeable batteries. To verify medical necessity, we will request a letter or certificate of medical necessity from your clinician. This documentation typically includes the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes (HCPCS codes) that apply to the specific … Continued
Determine Your Payment Options Flex Spending Account (FSA): An FSA is a pre-tax savings account for out of pocket medical costs. You may establish an FSA during your employer’s insurance open enrollment period, if available. FSA funds can only be used for the portion of the cost not covered by insurance, and the funds do … Continued
Written by: Katie S. I was not born with my hearing loss; it is the product of a “series of unfortunate events” as I like to call it. These events ultimately led to the loss of most of my natural hearing capability in my left ear as an eleven year old. After five years of … Continued
Cochlear implants While health plans have their own definitions of medical necessity, cochlear implants are recognized as standard treatment for severe-to-profound deafness and most insurance companies cover them. In 2004, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veteran’s Administration and other public health care plans covered cochlear implants. In 2004, more than 90 percent of all commercial health plans … Continued
Written by: Angel V. Each year as we prepare to return to school, the feelings of fear and worry do not go away. Every year I have the same questions: has the teacher ever taught a child with cochlear implants? Will the teachers know what to do if something goes wrong with her equipment? In … Continued
For Kathleen Myers, music is her soul and she could never imagine a world without it. ‘It’s a big part of who I am,’ says the mother of three from New Mexico. But despite taking active steps for years to connect with music, her experience has been limited to two genres – traditional rock’n’roll … Continued
It says, teaching a child to swim is an investment in a child’s safety, physical and emotional well-being. For grownups, swimming is a great workout. It builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. However, people and caregivers who are conscientious about protecting their sound processor investment may be leery about getting wet. But there’s no … Continued
Our volunteers truly embrace and embody Cochlear’s mission. They empower others by instilling confidence to advance their hearing experience. In addition, our volunteers transform lives by spreading awareness about hearing loss and by changing the perception of how hearing devices can impact one’s life. Our volunteers similarly find innovative ways to connect with others and … Continued
What is an MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic technique used to obtain images of organs and tissues by means of a very powerful magnetic field measured in tesla (T). MRI scans can range in strength from 0.2 T to 7.0 T, with 1.5 T being the most common. Safety considerations for medical … Continued
Music is everywhere in the world. It enriches our lives and accompanies our rituals – from birthdays to weddings and beyond. But for many cochlear implant recipients, whether you’re trying to experience music for the first time or reconnecting with it, enjoying music can often require time and effort. For Richard Reed, a … Continued
In 2018, fifth generation Bluetooth® wireless streaming was native in the world’s leading smart phones and Bluetooth headsets were the most popular wearable device in the world—providing a connection that lets the wearer tune in or tune out the world. It turns out, hearable wireless technology is a powerful equalizer. It increases the range, … Continued
Creating a community At the time of Ally’s birth, there wasn’t enough information available about options for children born with hearing loss. So, Melissa embarked on her mission to gather and share information about resources and options by establishing the Ear Community. During early childhood, hearing is critical to a child’s development and can impact … Continued
“It had done a good job. But it was starting to get tired. It had a lot of deterioration on the top of the exterior and the microphones didn’t seem to work as well. I wasn’t getting the full benefit anymore,” said Kris. When her Baha 3 Sound Processor hit five years old, Kris … Continued
The primary objective of cochlear implants is to optimize speech intelligibility. Given the emotional power of music, it’s no surprise that more than one cochlear implant recipient has said, I can understand speech with the sound processor, but music doesn’t sound as good as it used to. The issue is that music is a … Continued