Topic-Sensory integration functions of children with cochlear implants

A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted neuroprosthetic device that provides a sense of sound to a person with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Cochlear implants bypass the normal acoustic hearing process, instead replacing it with electric signals which directly stimulate the auditory nerve.

With training the brain may learn to interpret those signals as sound and speech.

Sensory problems related to children with cochlear implants

The child is overly sensitive to stimulation, overreacts to or does not like touch, noise, smells, etc.

  • Child is easily distracted in the classroom, often out of his/her seat, fidgety
  • Child is easily overwhelmed at the playground, during recess and in class.
  • Child is slow to perform tasks.
  • Child has difficulty performing or avoids fine motor tasks such as handwriting.
  • Child appears clumsy and stumbles often, slouches in chair.
  • Child craves rough housing, tackling/wrestling games.
  • Child is slow to learn new activities.
  • Child is in constant motion.
  • Child has difficulty learning new motor tasks and prefers sedentary activities.
  • Child has difficulty making friends (overly aggressive or passive/ withdrawn).
  • Child ‘gets stuck’ on tasks and has difficulty changing to another task.
  • Child confuses similar sounding words, misinterprets questions or requests.
  • Child has difficulty reading, especially aloud.
  • Child stumbles over words; speech lacks fluency, and rhythm is hesitant

Treatment

Teachers will also think about special needs for sound amplification, =communication devices and changes to their teaching.

Depending on the needs of your child, teachers may get extra help in the classroom or advice from visiting specialist teachers.

Parents can assist teachers by giving them all necessary and up-to-date information about their child’s hearing.

Trampolines, swings, and giant balls.

The therapy is geared toward giving the brain and vestibular system a big sensory experience to cut down on her need to compensate with ever-present jumping and bouncing.

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