Yorkshire Auditory Implant Service

Programming and Rehabilitation (children)

Following surgery, close contact is maintained with the family through audiology programming and assessment appointments; Speech and Language Therapy assessment appointments; workshops and support groups together with outreach visits made by the YAIS Teacher of the Deaf at home and/or educational settings.

Initial Programming

This takes place at YAIS. The external parts of the cochlear implant are fitted by a Clinical Scientist (Audiology) or Audiologist. The programming of the sound processor is started. It is important to note that this is the first of many programming sessions before the processor is set optimally. The child may not respond to sound immediately and this can take time.


Retention Options

There are many option of retention device available to help keep the implant in the right place until your child is big enough for this to be less of an issue. This image shows a headband which was designed by one of our parents.

Further Audiology Programming Appointments

Programming continues over the following months and years. The total number of appointments depends upon each individual child. Gradually, the child adapts to each new listening experience. Hearing tests and other outcome measures are completed on a regular basis.

We have innovative equipment to assess your listening abilities and monitor your child’s’ progress as they get used to listening with the cochlear implant.

Rehabilitation Appointments

Following initial programming, the Teacher of the Deaf visits both home and educational settings to ensure that all the carers involved have the support and information they need in order to support their child’s listening journey.

Consistent use of the processors all waking hours and developing a positive listening attitude need to be established. It is very important that:

  • the sound processors are worn from when the child gets up until they go to bed (all waking hours)
  • you speak to your child all day – research shows that children need to hear speech directed to them for at least 4 and a half hours every day to make good progress in their listening and language development.

The Rehabilitation team (Teachers of the Deaf, Speech and Language Therapists and Rehab Support Worker) offer ongoing regular support for up to 5 years post implant in order to:

  • give advice to all carers
  • ensure that the speech processor is in good working order
  • work individually with each child encouraging the development of listening skills and speech and language skills
  • promote the consistent use of spoken language by the child and all his/her carers
  • monitor and assess progress through formal and informal assessment

How the Paediatric SLTs work with you and your child after they have received their cochear implant

The paediatric SLT team currently includes Helen and Liz who are both experienced speech and language therapists working with deaf children with a range of communication needs. They provide support to parents/carers throughout the assessment for a cochlear implant and for those who go on to receive an implant.

  • Once your child has had their implant(s), they will be seen for review at specific points depending on your child’s age and communication and language needs.
  • Your child will be seen at the Listening for Life Centre for these appointments. The SLTs are based at the Centre; although some outreach can be provided when needed.
  • SLT rehabilitation after your child’s implant(s) involves individual review appointments to monitor your child’s progress and to provide specific tailored advice for you to try at home. Group workshops for parents are also offered when appropriate. These cover topics such as developing your child’s early communication skills, increasing your child’s vocabulary knowledge and helping to develop your child’s more complex language skills.
  • The paediatric SLTs will monitor most children for the first 5 years after their implant(s) depending upon if this is needed and your child’s age. Children over the age of 16 years will transfer over to the Adult SLT team if appropriate; however, YAIS SLTs are always available no matter how long your child has had their implant(s), to help with any language and communication challenges your child may need support with at home, in education or at work.

Our Speech and Language Therapist modeling language via play

Books promote language development


How the Teachers of the Deaf work with you and your child after they have received their cochear implant

The Teachers of the Deaf currently include Angela, Jeni and Joanne who are all experienced Teachers of the Deaf who have worked with deaf children and their families across a range of settings and ages. They provide support to both parents/carers throughout the assessment for a cochlear implant and for those who go on to receive an implant.

The YAIS ToD provides training for schools, nurseries and childminders.

The YAIS ToDs wil continue to monitor and assess children for up to 5 years after their implant(s), depending on their age and progress in listening.

YAIS ToDs will continue to offer training to nurseries and schools, particularly at transition times, such as change of school. Once children reach 16 years of age, they transfer to the Adult SLT team.

  • The YAIS ToD will be your key worker and link person between home, setting, local services and YAIS. Part of their role is to share information between home, setting and the audiological and SLT professionals at YAIS. This is to get as full a picture as possible of how your child’s hearing and listening skills are progressing in the “real world”.
  • Wherever possible, your ToD will be available to support you on the day of your child’s operation. They will visit you on the ward with details of switch on dates, upcoming home visits and next steps.
  • The YAIS ToD visits you at home with the local teacher of the deaf to go through information about switch on visits and care pathways.
  • The YAIS ToD will make further visits to you and your child with the local teacher of the deaf which will either take place at home or in a setting depending on the child’s age. The visits will be more frequent in the first year (up to 8) but not as frequent as your local teacher of the deaf
Child sharing book

The YAIS ToD observes your child’s hearing and listening behaviour in the home, shares observations with you and your local ToD and takes notes of your own observations. They offer advice, guidance and support for you in your role in helping to develop your child’s listening and communication skills in the home environment. They also offer advice, guidance and support for school and nursery staff in their role developing listening and communication in the setting.

teacher and child

The YAIS ToD carries out listening assessments at set intervals which involve discussion and questionnaires with you and/or nursery and school staff, observations of your child and more structured listening tasks depending on your child’s age.