OCR Text |
Show 9 W 9 W W W W The Park Record D Section A Thursday, May 26, 1 994 D Page A1 3 University clinic offers cochlear implant program People without normal hearing-from hearing-from the very young to some who are . very' old--are being helped through " ,, two related but significantly different programs directed by Marsha S. McCandless, audiology clinic director at the University of Utah College of Health. McCandless performs pre-6perafive pre-6perafive evaluation and postoperative post-operative programming for cochlear implant patients, and also is in charge of the clinic's hearing aid bank. These programs are among several at the U's Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic which arc designed as learning opportunities for graduate students in the College's Department of Communication Disorders, but the services provided benefit the community, too. " During one appointment, a very young boy, seated in front of a color-coded toy, watches McCandless as she simultaneously uses sign language and speech to see how he reacts to the computer program for his cochlear implant. "That's not too loud?" she inquires, and smiles reassuringly and gives him a thumbs-up sign when he nods "no." Her young client is one of about 30 profoundly hearing-impaired children from the Intermountain area who have been implanted with the. device by James L. Parkin, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Parkin, a pioneer in cochlear implantation, has been implanting profoundly deaf children and adults with the Nucleus 22 Channel Cochlear Implant, a multichannel multi-channel device which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1990 for use in children. It had been approved for adults prior to this time. "Although a cochlear implant will not solve all the hearing-impaired hearing-impaired patients' problems, it does reduce some of the handicappuig effects of profound deafness and helps children and adults develop better communication skills. The skill of the audiology clinic staff in programming the implants whatever 'Success our" patients enjoy," the U physician said. A cochlear implant is a neural prosthesis, not a hearing aid. Unlike a hearing aid, which sends amplified sound to the cochlea, the primary hearing organ in the inner ear, the implant bypasses damaged inner ear structures to send electrical signals directly to the auditory nerve. One set of components is surgically threaded into the cochlea, and the receiver-stimulator, placed just under the skin behind the ear in the mastoid bone, is almost invisible after the incision heals and the hair grows back. External components consist of a headset and a speech processor. When kids are little they wear the speech processor in a pouch with a harness underneath their clothes; when they're older, they use fanny packs for the device, McCandless says. She maps a program specifically for each client by stimulating the implanted electrodes. The impulses received are analogous to computerized speech. "Children will not have normal hearing, but the implant provides auditory stimulation that promotes the development of speech and spoken language," she said. Children implanted range in age from three to 17 and some two-year-olds now are being evaluated for implants. That's because speech and spoken language develop better when a child hears spoken language during the first years of life, she said. McCandless, a certified clinical audiologist, teaches both undergraduate and master's courses in the communications disorders department She worked in a medical setting and in private practice and taught at California State University, Los Angeles, and at the University of California at Los Angeles before coming to the U. McCandless says five- and six-year-old children are able to work for an hour to an hour and a half-with half-with rest breaks-when their computerized programs are being refined. For initial programming, all-day sessions are scheduled. Whether a deaf child should have a cochlear implant is an important decision to be made by parents after tffctfSGghly 'ftSefe McCandless" said. ''Our program is a J good community effort with referrals coming not only from physicians but also from the Utah schools for the deaf and the blind." McCandless' students also work with people who, have impaired hearing but cannot afford hearing aids because they live on small fixed incomes. The clinic's hearing aid bank was established about four years ago with devices supplied by hearing aid manufacturers and also through private donations of hearing aids in good condition. After a hearing evaluation, applicants receive an appropriate aid for a nominal fee. "Recipients are extremely grateful, and the program has community-wide support, ranging from Salt Lake County Aging Services to audiologists and physicians in private practice," McCandless said. Through a cooperative effort with the Veterans Administration, reconditioned hearing aids are provided to eligible veterans. McCandless knows of only one other such hearing aid bank-in Denver. Although manufacturers have been generous about replenishing the supply, donations are always welcome, she said. uaauaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaB g Fajitas! Fajitas! Fajitas g elCheeiO I Southwestern Grill 3 g 649-0883 255 Main St. g aaaaaaaaaauaaauaaaauauaaaaaa i're open ai eryor We' EL GHEElO Southwestern Grill 649-0883 255 Main St. I Vtzm, i L "Fast" Summer Lunch Special Cheese slice, small salad bar and 20 oz. drink $2.99 25c on additional toppings kVub oHy-1 dv i ju Mam street j: 1 2 PCMC telethon on KSL On June 4 and 5, Primary Children's Medical Center will participate in its twelfth telethon. The telethon raises funds to help needy children at Primary Children's receive the medical care they need. The 22-hour telethon will be broadcast on KSL Channel 5. Twenty minutes of each hour are broadcast live from Primary Children's and are hosted bx Len Randolph, Carole Mikita, Doug Wright and Jane Clay son. The remaining portion of the telethon is live from Disneyland. Primary Children's will become the stage for the Telethon which will air Saturday, June 4, at 7 p.m. through Sunday, June 5, at 5 p.m. Local segments will feature the courageous stories of children who have been, or are currently being, treated at Primary Children's. Community leaders, donors, and medical professionals will also be interviewed. In 1993, Primary Children's raised more than $469,000 in telethon contributions. Every dollar raised locally stays at Primary Children's to assist needy patients. The hospital is a 232-bed facility that specializes in treating children of all afflictions including cancer, birth defects, accident victims, and muscular and cardiovascular diseases. Primary Children's takes pride in treating the whole child while also addressing the needs of parenri and families c 1 i; Primary Children's is one of 160 hospitals who participate with Children's Miracle Network to organize the local telethons and raise funds for children. "Stretch for Kids" by giving to Primary Children's telethon June 4 and 5. Tune in to KSL Channel 5 to watch this special. Save a soul (sole?) White Pine Touring, in conjunction with the Salt Lake Homeless Shelter is sponsoring a boot trade-in program. The Homeless Shelter needs usable boots which can be dropped off or traded in at White Pine Touring. Trading a usable pair of boots allows the former owner to buy a new pair of boots at a significant discount. Help the homeless and save on some new soles. Trade-in program ends May 31. For more information, call 649-8710. The Mercedes Ben: C Class is designed to help you cope with today's driving. Its price is designed to help you cope with today's economy See it at your authorized Mercedes dealer. (X) Mercedes-Benz A CAR DESIGNED TO SURVIVE A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH THE ECONOMY. ;r &fj j - CwMwir-iniii-ii '" mi iinin imiAiMmm i iiimiiihij i iiiiinfy''V'!,i5 - -a. !. W TIIEC-CLASS. STARTING AT $29,900! Ken Ganff Imports 575 South State, Salt Lake City, Ut 521-6111 W.SW for a C220 excludes $475 transportation charge, all taxes, titledocumentary fees, registration, tags, dealer pre) charges, insurance, optional equipment, certificate of compliance or noncompliance fees, and finance charges. Prices may vary I iv dealer. . 1994 Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers Serving family-size dishes of authentic cuisine from the Campania region of Italy. Italian served the traditional way! - . '"' Pasta Jnsalata-Panini-Gourmet Pizza-Espresso Fresh Daily Entree Specials & More Now serving lunch from 11:30 a.m;3 p.m. with incredible lunch specials. Dinner from 5:30 p.m. We're closed on Sundays in May. All dishes are made to order with only the finest gourmet ingredients. 427 Main St 649-1281 Reservations accepted S Don't Forget Grand Opening Ends May 30 You CAN'T Beat Our Prices! Heber Valley Floor Covering 1358 South Hwy 40 Heber City 654-4346 V Country Feeling City Access! Offered at $289,900 3 Bd, 2 12 Ba, 3 Car Garage RADIANT HEAT! Hardwood floors Formal Dining and Living Area Vaulted Ceilings compliment this Spacious Floorplan Easy Commute to Salt Lake! Approx. 2,382 Sq. Ft. Talk to Tricia! I RICIA REAVES WHEIM PERFORMANCE COUNTS! 649-9200 640-0400 Wardley Better Homes & Gardens 1 w . I j. f ft ; iv ' - OPENING Friday, May 27 A d!HlH. UTAH 9 O 18 HOLE SILVER PUTT MINIATURE GOLF COURSE O RIDE THE 12 MILE ALPINE SLIDE O HORSEBACK RIDES 0 LITTLE MINERS PARK FOR AGES 6 AND UNDER CAROUSEL TRAIN PLANE RIDE PONY RIDE WPIIOTO FERRIS WHEEL i tiuiic wiucii rain i FAMILY REUNIONS GROUP RATES AVAILABLE PARK CITY STABLES FOR RATES, DATES, AND HOURS OF OPERATION, PLEASE CALL: 649-8111 OR 647-5333 V 1 trm MwMn 1 i A i: I .1 I 1? 1: '15 i - , m ir1 ri i mm rr immn iu nu.. tn r n -n m m m mi nm nn m n n m ir hi ir-Ti '"T'Tinr i i inn n' n i n In n i n i . n ' - n f I i nun - "" ' ' " .i.n i ..J |