Ideally patients should remain in the Dallas area for a minimum of 6 months. This allows for evaluation, surgery, and 5 months of programming and therapy. The implant programming can be advanced to a higher level than with option 2. Parents can be more thoroughly trained in home-delivery of speech and hearing therapy. We understand that it is an expensive proposition to be living away from home and to be away from work for 6 months. However, if possible it gives the most rapid results and better prepares the family for long-term management.

Besa - from Kosovo

All Information and correspondence can be emailed or faxed to us at 972.566.6560.

• For infants and children less than 3 years old send the results of Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing. This is also sometimes called Brainstem Evoked Response (BSER) or Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER).
• For children 3 years and older send results of prior ABR testing as well as results of sound booth hearing tests performed by a certified audiologist. The hearing tests should be performed both with appropriately fitted hearing aids and without hearing aids. For patients who have developed speech ability, word understanding tests should also be performed with and without hearing aids.
• For older children and adults send results of sound booth tests performed by a certified audiologist. The tests should be performed with and without appropriately fitted hearing aids and should include tests of speech understanding
• Answer the following questions. Please explain answers as necessary
• How old was the patient when the hearing loss was first diagnosed?
• Is the cause of the hearing loss known? Is it from birth, injury, infection?
• Has the patient worn hearing aids? If so for how long? Do they seem to help? What environmental sounds does the patient hear? Can the patient understand people talking?
• Does the patient have any other health problems other than hearing loss? Seizures, paralysis, heart problems, meningitis (brain infection), malformed ears or malformed face?
• Does the patient have any other developmental or mental function problems other than hearing loss? Autism, delayed motor development, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, inability to walk, inability or poor ability to eat and drink by mouth.
• Does the patient speak at all? Who can understand the patient? Does the patient speak in words or sentences? What is the native language? Has the patient been receiving speech therapy? If so, how often and for how long?
• Can a PAL or VHS videotape be sent to us showing the patient interacting with family members?

Once it has been determined that the patient can benefit from a cochlear implant you will be asked to   proceed with step 2.

• Please have a CAT scan of the temporal bones performed on the patient if not performed in the past. The radiologists' interpretation should be sent to us, preferably in English. If CAT scan facilities are not present in the patient's geographic area this test can be performed once he/she is in Dallas but this will increase the costs by $900
• Answer the following questions. This may require research on your part to find the answers
• Are there any centers in your country that are capable of programming cochlear implants? If so, how far away is the closest center from where the patient lives? Which cochlear implant devices are they capable of programming: Nucleus, Advanced Bionics, or Med-El?
• Are there speech therapy services available in your area? If so, do they have any experience working with cochlear implant patients?

• A visa will be required. Our office will send a letter to the US Consulate in your country stating the reason for travel is medical treatment
• A date will be set for your arrival and evaluation. The patient and family are responsible for all travel arrangements. Our center can make the necessary arrangements for your housing, transportation from the airport and transportation to and from our center while you are in Dallas. There may be a charge for some local transportation (see expense section below). The cost of housing and food is the responsibility of the patient and or family
• If you arrive early in the morning on a business day you may come directly to our center to begin testing. You will be asked to pay the evaluation fee in US dollars before we begin. If you arrive late in the day, the evaluation will begin the next business day
• You must bring the CAT scan films (not just the radiologist’s report) to avoid repeating this test. Also bring the patient’s hearing aids in working condition and with properly fitted ear molds.
• Once the patient is a confirmed implant candidate the surgery will usually occur within 2 to 3 days. The entire costs of the surgery and device must be paid before surgery. The money should be in a financial institution in the patient’s home country capable of performing a wire transfer. This avoids the patient or family carrying such a large sum of money and helps to avoid delays related to conventional transfers.

• The surgery will occur as soon as all financial arrangements are completed
• Three weeks after surgery the device will be activated. An expedited programming schedule is followed in order to be the most efficient with the patient’s time in Dallas
• Auditory-verbal therapy will begin 2 to 3 times per week either immediately after surgery or after activation