Cochlear implants are changing the lives of children like Kennedy Patlan. Born in Dallas and raised in Miami, Patlan received a cochlear implant more than 20 years ago, and became the first deaf student to receive a Posse scholarship to attend Syracuse University. “I can’t thank the clinicians and researchers enough,” said Patlan, who is now working in social cause advertising in Washington, DC. “Together, we are making great progress, one sound at a time.”Patlan received a rousing ovation from more than 1,200 attendees at the 16th Symposium on Cochlear Implants in Children – Treating the Whole Child, held July 10-13 at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. Two University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leaders served as scientific co-chairs for the conference, which was organized by the American Cochlear Implant (ACI) Alliance and supported by the UHealth Ear Institute and other academic and private sector organizations.
“Cochlear implants are opening doors by restoring hearing in patients like Kennedy Patlan,” said co-chair Fred Telischi, M.D., chair of otolaryngology, professor of otolaryngology, neurological surgery, and biomedical engineering, and the James R. Chandler Chair in Otolaryngology. “But we have to reach them early in life – ideally before the age of one.”
Referring to the conference’s Spanish and Chinese language tracks, Dr. Telischi added that more cochlear implant patients will be growing up in multilingual families. “The evidence clearly supports maintaining two languages for children with hearing loss,” he said.
Co-chair Ivette Cejas, Ph.D., associate professor of otolaryngology and psychology, and director of Family Support Services at the UHealth Children’s Hearing Program, emphasized the multidisciplinary aspects of the conference. “We need to look beyond the technology and consider the importance of speech therapy, psychological support, education and family engagement,” she said. “I encourage every attendee to push beyond your comfort zone and take advantage of the cross-training opportunities at this symposium.”
