Our audiologists use the most advanced diagnostic equipment to assess hearing and balance disorders. The Center is equipped to test people of all ages from newborn to geriatric patients. Special emphasis is placed on early identification of hearing loss in children. Pediatric specialists test newborns as well as older infants and children. For children with special needs who cannot be evaluated by a standard hearing test, we provide Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing with sedation.

The Hearing Aid Dispensary is fully equipped for fitting, repair and adjustment of hearing aids and other amplification devices. We are also a New York State Early Intervention provider for assistive technology for children up to 3 years of age.

Pediatric speech-language pathologists provide highly specialized services on an outpatient and inpatient basis including the pediatric ICU and NICU. Our specialists conduct comprehensive assessments and provide treatment addressing speech, cognitive-linguistic, voice, hearing and feeding/swallowing difficulties. We work closely with patients, families and members of the medical team to ensure comprehensive care. Family counseling and education is an integral part of the program. Advanced instrumentation is routinely used to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.

The Apelian Cochlear Implant Center at Cohen Children’s provides full diagnostic, counseling and rehabilitation services to children with severe to profound hearing loss:

Our services include:

• Audiology
• Auditory processing evaluations
• Adult evaluations
• Newborn hearing screenings
• Pediatric evaluations

Cochlear Implants

Surgeons, audiologists, speech pathologists, educators, social workers and consultants all meet to discuss each child's specific needs and formulate recommendations for implantation and postoperative support. Since a support system is critical to a successful implant, parents and teachers are considered to be part of our team and are involved throughout the process. A support group for parents of hearing impaired children meets monthly.

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device designed to bypass damaged sensory cells in the inner ear (cochlea) and provide sound to profoundly deaf individuals who do not benefit from hearing aid use. A wire containing an array of electrodes is inserted into the cochlea. An externally worn transmitter sends coded sound information to the electrodes, which, in turn, stimulate the auditory (hearing) nerve, bypassing the damaged cells.

Using the cochlear implant, profoundly deaf individuals are able to hear and understand speech. Most children are able to hear conversation without lip reading and use spoken language for everyday communication. Profoundly hearing impaired children may be implanted as young as 12 months of age if audiological and medical criteria for implantation are met.

The Hearing and Speech Center coordinates the screening of approximately 25,000 newborns throughout Northwell Health and provides a full range of follow-up services including counseling and early intervention assistive technology services for the identified infants.