Now that the Superbowl and the Olympics have passed, let’s gather to enjoy the company of our fellow cochlear implant fans. We have a doubleheader in store for our March meeting! First, Dr. Melanie Buhr-Lawler will demystify how the benefits of cochlear implants are measured. Then Dr. Marilyn Neault will update us on research about hearing with one vs. two ears.

HOW DO I HEAR THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS will be presented by Melanie Buhr-Lawler, AuD, CCC-A, Audiologist at Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham. Dr. Buhr-Lawler joined the cochlear implant team at Children’s in 2008, after providing cochlear implant services for adults and children at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. She will explain how various benefits of cochlear implant use for children and adults can be measured and what those numbers mean. We all know that some benefits of cochlear implant use just can’t be captured by test results, Perhaps you have some great ideas how audiologists could measure improvements in ways that would best capture your experience or that of your child!

After a break to chat and snack, Marilyn Neault, PhD, CCC-A, Director of Habilitative Audiology at Children’s Hospital, will present IN ONE EAR AND IN THE OTHER! Cochlear implant scientists have much to learn from the way people hear who have one-sided hearing loss, and unilateral hearing loss researchers have much to learn from people who use one cochlear implant. Is the brain wired differently if you hear with one ear? Does it matter which ear? Do people with one-sided hearing loss ever get implants? How do two implants work together? How can we measure the benefits of bilateral implants?

Both Dr. Buhr-Lawler and Dr. Neault grew up in Wisconsin, but neither owns a cheesehead hat.

See you March 14th!

Joan Celebi will lead the popular mentoring games for children age 5 years and up.

Child care will be provided for children age 18 months and up. Graduate students in communication disorders will guide the children’s play, and will come into the meeting room to call a parent if a special cuddle or a diaper change is needed. Juice and snacks will be provided for the children.

Terri Charles, our refreshment coordinator, asks people with last name M - Z to bring some food like munchies, cheese & crackers, cookies, vegetable & dips, soda, juices (nonalcoholic) for the table. Coffee and tea will be available along with cream, milk and sugar.  (At the next meeting, A - L can bring food.)

The next MIC meeting will be on April 25th! Keep your eyes open for the meeting information online. Directions to the meeting is below.

Directions:

Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham
9 Hope Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone: 781-216-2100

After going in the main entrance, walk straight past the reception desk and turn right.  Go down the hall and turn right at the sign that says Conference Center. Go down that hallway and turn left just before the sign that says Medical Office Building.  Then you will have arrived at the Flaschner Conference Rooms!

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) Eastbound

Take exit 14 for I-95/Route 128. After the toll, keep left for 95/128 North. While on ramp, exit immediately onto exit 24 for Route 30. Bear left onto Route 30. Turn right at first traffic light onto River Road. Follow this for 1.5 miles, where it turns into South Street. Go past Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) Westbound

Take exit 15 for I-95/Route 128 and Route 30. After the toll proceed straight for Route 30. Turn right at end of the ramp, and then right again at first traffic light onto Route 30. Turn left at next traffic light onto River Road. Follow this for 1.5 miles, where it turns into South Street. Go past Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From I-95/Route 128 Southbound

Take exit 24 for Route 30. At end of ramp, proceed through traffic light (across Route 30). This is River Road (River Road becomes South Street). Go past Brandeis University, which is two miles ahead. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From I-95/Route 128 Northbound

Take exit 24 for Route 30. Route 30 is one of several options at this exit, so follow signs carefully. Turn left at the top of the ramp onto Route 30. Turn right at the traffic lights. This is South Street, travel two miles and pass Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.