Washington, D.C.: American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) launched a new blog aimed to reach individuals with hearing loss who are exploring cochlear implants for themselves, a family member or a child.
Questions submitted to the Ask the Audiologist blog are answered by Dr. Melissa Hall and Dr. Cache Pitt who bring their backgrounds, education and insights from their current work to provide information on cochlear implants, how cochlear implants work with hearing aids, what to do when hearing loss is progressing, where to find and evaluate a cochlear implant center, and other issues. The blog is designed to give general information for individuals researching cochlear implants and is not intended to give specific medical recommendations or replace an appointment with an individual’s cochlear implant audiologist.
Dr. Melissa Hall earned her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida after completing her BA and MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. She joined the University of Florida as a Clinical Associate Professor teaching audiology courses. Today she directly serves patients and families, specializing in cochlear implants and other implantable hearing devices.
Dr. Cache Pitt is a Clinical Associate Professor of Audiology and provides clinical supervision to graduate students in Audiology. He went to the University of Wyoming where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in audiology. Dr. Pitt began his career in audiology at the California Ear Institute in Palo Alto, CA where he worked with adults and children with cochlear implants.
Ask the Audiologist can be found on the ACI Alliance website at www.acialliance.org/page/askaudiologist-blog. Questions can be submitted on the website and we encourage people to share the blog with their networks, patients, and other audiences. This new blog adds to the already existing resource library on the website including: videos on cochlear implant evaluation, surgery, and rehabilitation; resources for veterans with hearing loss; FAQ pages addressing misconceptions about cochlear implants and questions specific to infants and children; and stories about children and adults who have received a cochlear implant detailing their hearing journey and experiences with cochlear implants.
ACI Alliance is a not-for-profit membership organization created with the purpose of eliminating barriers to cochlear implantation by sponsoring research, driving heightened awareness, and advocating for improved access to cochlear implants for patients of all ages across the US.
