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Similar to hearing aids, a cochlear implant is not a cure for deafness. Aural habilitation is necessary for children to obtain optimal performance with a cochlear implant. Children with cochlear implants demonstrate a wide range of performance based on many tests.
Children who use hearing aids or cochlear implants often have difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise or when the speaker is at a distance greater than three feet away. FM/DM (frequency or digital modulation) systems are commonly used in conjunction with hearing aids and cochlear implants, allowing children to hear the speaker’s voice better over a distance and in background noise. An FM/DM system consists of a microphone connected to a transmitter, worn by the speaker (e.g. a teacher or parent), and a receiver worn by the child, attached to the hearing aid or cochlear implant. As with other assistive devices, there has been significant improvement in these devices in recent years. A soundfield FM/DM system consists of a microphone/transmitter worn by a person talking (i.e. teacher) and a receiver is housed within or connected to loudspeakers that are placed throughout a room; these systems are typically used in classrooms.
Source: http://www.babyhearing.org
Early Intervention
Early intervention means getting started as early as possible to address the individual needs of a child with hearing loss, to enhance the infant or toddler's development, to minimize the potential for developmental delay, and to enhance the family's capacity to meet the child's needs. Early intervention is a system of services to help eligible children from birth until their third birthday.
Two federal laws - PL 105-17, Part C, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - regulate early intervention services. Together, these laws encourage states to develop coordinated programs of early intervention services for children with disabilities from birth to age three, and require that these children and their parents have the same legal right to a free and appropriate education as children without disabilities. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as "IDEA," is a federal law that requires states to provide a "free, appropriate public education" to children with disabilities so that they can be educated to the greatest extent possible along with all other children. School districts are required to follow specific procedures to determine a child's eligibility for special education, to develop the child's IEP, and to resolve conflicts. Parents of children with disabilities must be afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of their child's IEP. Early intervention programs typically have both home-based and center-based services. Home-based services include a weekly visit to the family’s home from an infant specialist. Center-based services include playgroups, parent groups, and sign language classes.