Cochlear Implant Parents' Resource Centre Opens in Beijing

Cochlear has announced another milestone in its lifetime commitment to its cochlear implant recipients with the opening today of the Parents' Resource Centre in Beijing.

The centre, which is located at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, will train parents in auditory verbal therapy for children with cochlear implants.

Auditory verbal therapy can assist parents help their child to develop his or her full auditory potential and it can facilitate the development of language, communication, speech and cognition.

The centre will train parents in developing these skills and it also includes a therapy room and a parents' library where auditory verbal therapy toys and books can be borrowed.

Cochlear's President Asia-Pacific Mr Phil Nicholl said the company was pleased to provide funding for the centre.

"This is a significant step in our lifetime commitment to our Cochlear Nucleusâ recipients in China," he said.

"Cochlear is the market leader in cochlear implant technology and more than 45,000 people in countries all around the globe have our implants.

"We want to see all recipients reach their full potential and the Parents' Resource Centre is one way of assisting children with cochlear implants.

"This is one way of ensuring recipients can make the best out of their implants."

Mr Nicholl paid tribute to the Peking Union Medical College and Professor Keli Cao, who had both assisted Cochlear in establishing the facility.

"The Peking Union Medical College has allowed us to work from inside the hospital and is also helping with the coordination of the program," he said.

"Professor Chao is one of China's leading cochlear implant surgeons and has also provided us with his advice and assistance."

Cochlear's distributor Bodycare has also helped with the establishment of the facility.

The facility is located inside the hospital's Cochlear Implant Centre and will provide services to families from throughout China.

Miss Mary Wong, a speech therapist with more than five years experience, will lead the program.

"One of the first things we will do is start a Parents Pre-Implant Group, where carers can learn what to expect when their child receives an implant and can learn the skills to help their child to learn to speak and hear," she said.

Further information please contact Cochlear Beijing on 86 10 65 813800 or 86 10 65 81 1880 (fax)

For more information on Cochlear Americas click here.

Click here to visit the Cochlear Americas website.