External Speech Processor Upgrade for Cochlear Implants: What are the criteria for upgrade?

The Cochlear Implant system consists of an internal part which is surgically inserted  and an external Processor.

Internal component 

intraoperative snapshot of internal part

The external component is switched on 2-4 weeks after surgery

external procesor

The magnet (beige) of external processor is seen 

The external processor has to be maintained and cared for so that the child is always listening to sounds.

The processor care can be categorised in two groups:

I. Providing repairs,replacements and batteries.Some components are covered in warranty and we always prepare parents to keep aside an amount for these regular maintainance in our pre operative councelling.

II.To provide access to newer technology which can provide improved perception of speech to the implantee.
Usually the external processor is changed anywhere between 3-10 years (on an average of 5 years,child may need a new speech processor).

Newer technologies may provide better access to spoken language and ease/comfort of use.

Following links provide information on processor upgrade criteria in Australia and Canada where upgrades are government sponsored.

www.hearing.com.au

Sharing the Canadian Guidelines for Processor upgrades  for Pediatric Cochlear Implant users

https://www.cadth.ca/speech-processor-upgrades-pediatric-patients-cochlear-implants-clinical-evidence-and-guidelines

Language Deprivation Syndrome Lecture

Though this lecture is for an hour,for professionals working with hearing impaired- its an eye opener.I am speechless..I should say..

I have learnt Hindi as my mother tongue L1 and went ahead to learn Marathi,English,Telugu,Kannada...now I want to learn Indian Sign Language.When I say learn and speak,I learnt grammar and vocabulary of these languages.
I can understand and speak few words of Malayalam,Tamil,Gujarati,Punjabi and Bengali being with friends.In our field,we say incidental learning of another language.

Presently,in my opinion- it's almost impossible to convince hearing parents about signing!I hope they educate themselves about the advantage of bilingualism.The best change to learn language for these children born to normal hearing parents is to diagnose them at birth and amplify by 6 months,at least with a hearing aid.