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Cochlear Implant Central -- an unbiased and comprehensive site about Cochlear
Implants -- take a look and you will find the answer to just about any question you might have about CIs -- the site is http://www.cicentral.org/index.html
Want to know more about
Cochlear Implants? The Deafness Research Foundation web site provides a concise and understandable explanation complete with
links to Hospitals and other resources if you need even more information. The
link for the Deafness Research Foundation web site article on implants is: http://www.drf.org/cms/index.cfm?displayArticle=16
HealthyHearing.com, a consumer web site on hearing health, has published an interview with Al Mann, Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Bionics Corporation. The interview provides an in-depth
look at the man who started Advanced Bionics and about new technological
developments the company is involved with, including developing a bionic
eye, spinal cord stimulator, brain stimulator, and a device that can be implanted with a needle. The
full article can be viewed at www.BionicEar.com in the News Section,
or at www.HealthyHearing.com.
Major studies are now underway on the use of cochlear implants in both
ears for those who have no residual hearing in either ear. Larry Sivertson's report from the 2002 SHHH Convention on
Bilateral Cochlear Implants can be found at http://qcshhh.tripod.com/bilateral_cochlear_implants.htm
The Food and Drug Administration has created an online bionic skeleton
named Yorick as an interactive learning tool on its FDA Kids Website. Designed to teach about medical devices used in place
of body parts that no longer work, it has a glass eye, silicon nose, gel-filled chin, artificial heart, cochlear implant,
and staple in the thigh. This fascinating site can be found at: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/html/yorick_parts.htm
(Information courtesy of Northern Virginia Resource Center, www.nvrc.org)
There are presently three (3) manufacturers of cochlear implants, Advanced
Bionics (www.bionicear.com), Cohlear Corporation (www.cochlear.com) and Med-El Corporation (www.medel.com). All three have very informative and educational sites.
WARNING REGARDING INFECTION FROM COCHLEAR IMPLANTS:
As some of you may be aware, there is a concern recently that people who have been implanted with Cochlear Implants may be
more likely to contract meningitis. For more information about this warning, may we suggest that you visit the Advanced
Bionics web site at www.bionicear.com which will provide more information regarding this topic as well as the warning
that was issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As of August 14, 2002, the FDA has updated its warning
regarding Cochlear Implants. The updated warning can be found at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/cochlear.html Advanced Bionics has announced a program to reimburse Clarion users
for the cost of the meningitis shot. For more information on the reimbursement program, the link is: http://www.bionicear.com/vaccine/CU_reimburse.html
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