Cochlear Implant Habilitationists

The Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP) funds van Asch Deaf Education Centre to provide Habilitation staff in the programme. The SCIP has four Habilitationists split between its Christchurch and Wellington cochlear implant clinics.

The Cochlear Implant Habilitationists aim to support all children who have received cochlear implants in order to maximise their auditory potential and communication development. We work with babies and their families through to students under the age of 19.

Cochlear implants are designed to provide useful hearing to students who get little or no benefit from hearing aids. The Habilitationists work with young children, students, family, school and other professionals to provide a variety of services.

What do we do?

• Support children to develop language through listening.
• Guide parents to be the primary facilitators of their children’s language development.
• Provide regular therapy sessions in the home, clinic, education setting or via skype
• Provide guidance for professionals.
• Assess and monitor progress in listening, language and speech development.
• Provide written reports to document progress and inform future goals and expectations.
• Recommend goals, resources and strategies.
• Assess for cochlear implant candidacy.
• Work alongside SCIP Audiologists.
• Provide in-service training to those working alongside children, such as Teachers of the Deaf, Advisers, classroom teachers and Teacher Aides.
• Provide regional support through a visiting service and via skype.
• Support family communication choice.

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