MKM ENT Associates, a division of Mercy Hospital, is the only medical practice in Maine to now provide cochlear implant surgery
Dr. Hearst
Portland, Maine (November 15, 2011) – Unlike a hearing aid, cochlear implants don’t amplify sound—they restore it. Until just a few months ago, Mainers had to go out of state for this high tech procedure. Not anymore. Cochlear Implant surgery, which delivers sound straight to the auditory nerve, is now being performed right here at home–for the first time–by doctors at Mercy Hospital.
“It’s life changing as far as the impact on patients,” says Mercy’s Dr. Matthew Hearst. “A lot of people we treat have become socially withdrawn, depressed and isolated because they can’t hear. This procedure gives them back their lives. It’s pretty amazing” Cochlear implants train the auditory part of the brain to reinterpret electronic sounds as speech.
For Davey Smith, the implants mean that he can now be part of a world from which he was once excluded. Smith had the surgery at Mercy in March.
“My social life has been completely turned around. I’m talking to people everywhere I go…I have begun to talk to people who I used to avoid because I just couldn’t understand them and now I can. There are no words to express how that makes me feel. Every day is a new day and a new adventure. It’s thrilling,” says Davey Smith.
David Leland of Brunswick tells the same story. David’s wife, Janet, says David began losing his hearing about twenty years ago until eventually his hearing loss was complete. In July, David had cochlear implant surgery performed by Dr. Hearst.
Janet says David told her just last week that he can now hear most of their pastor’s sermon in church—something that hasn’t happened in over a decade. Twice a week David visits Listening and Spoken Language specialist, Cathy Janelle, at hear ME now in Falmouth, to learn how to adapt to this new way of hearing.
Pam Dawson, executive director of hear ME now, says the surgery opens a whole new world for people with profound hearing loss—especially children.
“We have seen it work miracles in the lives of children and their families,” says Dawson.
Profound hearing loss can mean a life of isolation. Thanks to the doctors at Mercy Hospital there is now a life changing solution right here in Maine
About MKM ENT Associates
MKM ENT Associates is an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) medical practice that specializes in disorders relating to th e ear nose and throat, including tinnitus, hyperacusis, balance problems (vertigo and dizziness), hearing and speech disorders, sleep apnea and snoring. Caring for patients in Maine for over 30 years, the physicians, audiologists and therapists at MKM ENT Associates are best known for the integrated, team based caring approach to solving patient problems.
About Mercy Health System of Maine
Mercy Health System of Maine is a growing community of healthcare providers who provide clinically-excellent, compassionate care. A recognized leader in quality, safety, innovation and patient experience, Mercy operates campuses throughout southern Maine, offering a broad range of medical and surgical services, as well as primary and specialty care. The story of Mercy includes Mercy Hospital, Gary’s House, McAuley Residence, Mercy Recovery Center, and VNA Home Health & Hospice. For more information, please call (207) 879-3486 or visit www.mercyhospital.org.
About Cochlear Americas
Denver-based Cochlear Americas is the U.S. headquarters for Cochlear Limited, the world leader in cochlear implant technology. Cochlear is a winner of the 2001 Medical Design Excellence Awards for its design of the Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Contour™ cochlear implant and the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation for the development and commercialization of the Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Multichannel Auditory Brainstem implant. To date, more than 50,000 people worldwide have received Cochlear Nucleus® cochlear implants. For more information about Cochlear’s products, call the Cochlear Nucleus Hotline at 800/458-4999 (Voice) or 800/483-3123 (TTY) or visit the website at www.cochlear.com.
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