In the years since 1984 the NYU Cochlear Implant Center, an NYU Center of Excellence, has become one of the largest and most highly respected clinical and research implant centers in the world.

As of July 2006, the clinical portion of the program has implanted almost 1,500 cochlear and brainstem implants in children and adults. The Center performs preoperative diagnostic evaluation of adults and children with severe-to-profound hearing loss to determine their eligibility for a cochlear implant.

The preoperative assessment includes medical, otologic, radiologic, genetic, auditory, speech perception, communication, as well as psychological and educational evaluations where appropriate. If, following the evaluation, the patient is deemed a candidate for implantation, the surgery is performed at Tisch Hospital or the New York Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (for Veterans). Neural and implant function are monitored during surgery using a variety of techniques which include facial electromyography, electrical auditory brainstem responses, electrically evoked stapedius measures, voltage measures and neural response telemetry and imaging. Initial device stimulation occurs approximately three weeks following surgery; subsequent device programming is ongoing and occurs at frequent intervals to ensure optimum functioning.

Periodic evaluations assist in monitoring progress and planning for rehabilitation and educational needs. Auditory and linguistic training programs and educational recommendations, based on the level of functioning preoperatively and postoperatively, are established for each cochlear implant recipient by team personnel. Patients are re-evaluated on a regular basis and the rehabilitation strategies are modified according to the performance with the implant.

Location:
660 First Avenue (at 38th Street)
7th Floor
New York, New York
Phone: (212) 263-7567
Fax: (212) 263-3330