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>> McFarland: WELCOME TO HEALTHY
BODY, HEALTHY MIND.
I'M DR. SCOTT MCFARLAND.
NEARLY 39 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE
SIGNIFICANT HEARING LOSS.
WHILE MANY OF US MAY TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED, THE ABILITY TO HEAR
CAN HAVE A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON
ONE'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
AN ESTIMATED 1/3 OF PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 65 AND 75 AND CLOSE TO
1/2 OF THOSE OLDER THAN 75
HAVE SOME DEGREE OF HEARING
LOSS, AND IT'S NOT JUST
A PROBLEM FOR THE ELDERLY.
>> 1 TO 3 CHILDREN OUT OF
1,000 ARE BORN WITH PROFOUND
HEARING LOSS.
THAT IS, THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF
HEARING WHATSOEVER.
>> CHILDREN, WHEN THEY'RE BORN,
SPEND A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF,
JUST LISTENING IN ORDER TO LEARN
TO TALK.
AND IF HEARING IS NOT NORMAL,
THAT PROCESS IS TYPICALLY
AFFECTED SIGNIFICANTLY.
>> McFarland: UNTIL RECENTLY,
THOSE WITH SEVERE HEARING LOSS
WERE LOCKED IN A WORLD OF
SILENCE.
BUT AS WE'LL SEE, RAPIDLY
ADVANCING RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY
INVOLVING COCHLEAR IMPLANTS,
HAS MADE THE JOY OF SOUND
POSSIBLE FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD
ALIKE.
[upbeat instrumental music]
♪ ♪
>> male announcer: MAJOR FUNDING
FOR HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
IS PROVIDED BY:
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS
CORPORATION,
WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES BY PIONEERING
NOVEL HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS.
AND BY SANOFI,
A DIVERSIFIED GLOBAL HEALTH CARE
LEADER, DISCOVERS, DEVELOPS, AND
DISTRIBUTES THERAPEUTIC
SOLUTIONS FOCUSED
ON PATIENTS' NEEDS.
WE WORK TO PREVENT AND TREAT THE
DISEASES THAT WE KNOW OF TODAY
AS WELL AS THOSE WE MAY FACE
TOMORROW.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
ADVANCED BIONICS...
CAREFUSION...
AND BY UCB, INC.
>> McFarland: HELEN KELLER, BOTH
DEAF AND BLIND FROM EARLY
CHILDHOOD, SAID THAT IF SHE
COULD HAVE JUST ONE OF HER
SENSES BACK, IT WOULD BE
HEARING.
HEARING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST
PROCESSING SOUNDS.
HEARING IS IMPORTANT FOR SOCIAL
INTERACTION AND LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT.
AND BEING ABLE TO HEAR CAN HELP
AN INDIVIDUAL MORE EASILY
INTERACT AND FULLY FUNCTION IN
DAILY LIFE.
>> READY: "MERGE."
>> "MERGE."
>> READY: "NAME."
>> "NAME."
>> HEARING IS A VERY INTERESTING
SENSE.
>> "SHORE."
>> "SHORE."
>> IT'S MUCH LIKE THE SENSE OF
TOUCH.
>> "EIGHT."
>> WHEN SOMEBODY TOUCHES YOU,
YOU'RE TAKING MECHANICAL ENERGY
AND THE ROLE OF SPECIALIZED
CELLS CONVERT THAT TO AN
ELECTRICAL SIGNAL.
AND IT GOES THROUGH YOUR SPINAL
CORD TO YOUR BRAIN AND YOU FEEL
SOMETHING.
>> McFarland: DR. ANIL LALWANI
IS A PROFESSOR AND VICE CHAIR
FOR RESEARCH IN THE DEPARTMENT
OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.
>> HEARING IS VERY SIMILAR.
YOU KNOW, A SOUND WAVE IS
A MECHANICAL ENERGY.
>> "THE BAKERY IS OPEN."
>> AND THE SPECIALIZED CELLS IN
OUR INNER EAR, CALLED HAIR
CELLS, TAKE THE MECHANICAL
ENERGY, CONVERT IT TO AN
ELECTRICAL SIGNAL, AND THAT'S
HOW WE HEAR.
JENNIFER, YOU'RE DOING
REALLY GREAT.
>> McFarland: THE EAR IS HIGHLY
EFFICIENT AT PROCESSING THE
SOUND WAVES AND VIBRATIONS INTO
AUDIBLE SOUNDS.
THE SOUND IS AMPLIFIED AS IT
GETS INTO THE EAR, AND THOSE
FLUID WAVES IN THE INNER EAR
STIMULATE SPECIAL SENSORY CELLS
CALLED HAIR CELLS.
THOSE HAIR CELLS IN TURN
STIMULATE THE NERVE, AND THAT'S
THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS OF
HEARING.
AS THERE IS A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THE EAR
WORKS AND PROCESSES SOUNDS,
THERE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED
A CLEARER PICTURE ABOUT WHAT
CAUSES HEARING LOSS.
IN ADULTS, TRADITIONALLY THE
MOST COMMON CAUSES WERE THOUGHT
TO BE EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO
NOISE AND ADVANCING AGE.
BUT THERE ARE NOW NEW INSIGHTS
ABOUT THE FACTORS THAT MAY LEAD
TO HEARING LOSS.
>> NOW WE REALIZE IT'S A
COMBINATION OF BOTH THAT NOISE
EXPOSURE AND GETTING OLDER
COMBINED WITH OUR GENETIC
INFLUENCES.
>> SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK
IN YOUR EAR WITH THE BIG LIGHT,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL
A LITTLE TOUCHING.
IT'S A LITTLE PLASTIC FUNNEL SO
I CAN GET THE LIGHT IN YOUR EAR
REALLY WELL.
>> McFarland: IN CHILDREN,
HEARING LOSS MAY RESULT FROM
STRUCTURAL OR FUNCTIONAL
PROBLEMS WITHIN THE MIDDLE OR
INNER EAR.
ONCE HEARING LOSS IS SUSPECTED,
THEN A COMPREHENSIVE HEARING
EVALUATION IS PERFORMED.
HOWEVER, DETECTING A HEARING
LOSS IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
ISN'T NECESSARILY EASY.
DR. NANCY YOUNG IS A PROFESSOR
AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE...
>> EXCELLENT JOB.
>> McFarland: AND MEDICAL
DIRECTOR OF THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT
PROGRAM AT LURIE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO.
>> ARE YOU READY FOR THE EJECT
BUTTON?
DIAGNOSING HEARING LOSS IN
NEWBORNS AND INFANTS IS ACTUALLY
VERY DIFFICULT SIMPLY BECAUSE
IT'S OFTEN NOT SUSPECTED.
IT'S OFTEN NOT SUSPECTED BY THE
PARENTS.
IT'S OFTEN NOT SUSPECTED BY THE
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
AND IN FACT, WHEN I FIRST WENT
INTO PRACTICE, WHICH WAS ABOUT
25 YEARS AGO, THE AVERAGE AGE A
DEAF CHILD--A CHILD WITH REALLY
NO HEARING AT ALL--
WAS IDENTIFIED WAS CLOSE TO TWO
YEARS OF AGE.
THAT'S HOW SNEAKY THE PROBLEM
CAN BE.
>> THE SITH ORDER BEGAN ALMOST
TWO MILLENNIA AGO WITH THE...
>> McFarland: KRISTEN AND DAVID
VAN *** GOT SOME DISTURBING
INFORMATION WHEN THEIR FIRST
CHILD, MAX, HAD A HEARING
SCREENING TEST SOON AFTER HE WAS
BORN.
>> WE WERE TOLD THAT HE HAD
ACTUALLY FAILED HIS HEARING TEST
AND WERE REFERRED TO CHILDREN'S
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
FOR A FOLLOW-UP.
SO WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY.
>> McFarland: THERE ARE TWO MAIN
TYPES OF HEARING LOSS:
CONDUCTIVE AND SENSORINEURAL.
WHEN THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO
THE OUTER EAR OR MIDDLE EAR,
THE PROBLEM IS CONDUCTIVE.
WHEN THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO
THE INNER EAR, HEARING NERVE, OR
BRAIN, THE PROBLEM IS ALMOST
ALWAYS SENSORY.
IN CHILDREN, CONDUCTIVE HEARING
LOSS IS USUALLY REVERSIBLE.
HOWEVER, SENSORINEURAL HEARING
LOSS IS ALMOST ALWAYS PERMANENT
AND MAY GET WORSE.
AT FIRST, HOWEVER, THE VAN ***
SIMPLY THOUGHT THE TEST RESULTS
HAD BEEN WRONG.
>> WHEN WE WENT TO THE 30-DAY
CHECK, THE FOLLOW-UP, WE THOUGHT
HE WOULD BE CLEARED AND BE FINE.
SO IT WAS DEVASTATING NEWS.
IT WAS A VERY HARD WEEKEND IN
THIS HOUSE.
>> McFarland: ONCE THE HEARING
LOSS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN MAX,
THE STEPS TO CORRECT IT BEGAN.
WHILE MAX WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE
BEEN GIVEN THE HEARING TEST AS A
NEWBORN, FOR SKYE CARTER AND HER
PARENTS, THERE WERE NO TESTS
AVAILABLE FOR HER AT BIRTH.
>> SKYE WAS BORN AT A TIME WHEN
THERE WAS NO NEWBORN HEARING
SCREENING.
AND MRS. CARTER SUSPECTED
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
>> WHEN SKYE WAS SIX MONTHS OLD,
SHE WASN'T SITTING UP YET.
AND I SORT OF HAD A CONCERN
WITH THAT BECAUSE I HAD
A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD AT THE TIME
ALSO, AND I REMEMBERED AT
SIX MONTHS OLD, HE WAS SITTING
UP; HE WAS CRAWLING AROUND;
HE WAS BABBLING.
SKYE WASN'T MAKING MUCH NOISE
AND WAS VERY HAPPY AND SLEPT
VERY WELL, BUT SHE JUST DIDN'T--
SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG WITH HER
NOT BEING ABLE TO SIT UP.
>> McFarland: CHERYL TOOK SKYE
TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR HELP
DEVELOPING HER MOTOR SKILLS, AND
THE THERAPIST TOLD CHERYL HE
BELIEVED SKYE COULD NOT HEAR.
>> I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I BELIEVED THAT THEY DID SOME
SORT OF TESTING INACCURATELY,
AND I WAS IN DENIAL.
SO I CAME HOME AND BANGED EVERY
FRYING PAN I COULD BEHIND HER
AND BROUGHT HER OUT BY THE CAR
AND BLEW THE HORN.
AND I STARTED TO CRY AS I MADE
LOUDER NOISES AND I NOTICED THAT
SHE WAS NOT RESPONDING.
AND MY SON WAS RUNNING AROUND
SAYING, "MOM, WHY ARE YOU MAKING
ALL THESE NOISES?"
>> McFarland: SKYE WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH A PROFOUND SENSORINEURAL
HEARING LOSS WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN
MONTHS OLD.
THOSE WITH MORE PROFOUND HEARING
LOSS--THOSE WHO DO NOT MAKE
PROGRESS WITH HEARING AIDS--ARE
CANDIDATES FOR COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS.
>> COCHLEAR IMPLANTS ARE, BY AND
LARGE, SLOTTED FOR PEOPLE WHOSE
HEARING IS SO POOR THAT
A HEARING AID PROVIDES LITTLE OR
NO BENEFIT.
>> WAIT AND LISTEN TO MY VOICE.
YOU GOT TO WAIT.
BUP-BUP-BUP-BUP-BUP-BUP
BUP-BUP-BUP.
YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
GOOD GIRL.
>> THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO
HEARING AIDS FOR A MINIMUM OF
SIX MONTHS BEFORE--INSURANCE
REQUIRES IT BEFORE YOU CAN HAVE
THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT BECAUSE
THEY WANT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY
KIND OF--YOU RECEIVE ANY KIND OF
AUDITORY BENEFIT.
BUT MAX'S LOSS IS SO PROFOUND.
HE WOULDN'T EVEN HEAR THE "EL"
TRAIN GOING OVER.
HE WOULD FEEL THE VIBRATION.
THERE WAS JUST--THERE WAS
NOTHING--YOU COULDN'T AMPLIFY
ENOUGH FOR HIM TO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO HAVE HEARD ANYTHING.
>> McFarland: AND FOR SKYE,
THE EARLY TREATMENTS WERE
CUMBERSOME, UNCOMFORTABLE, AND
INEFFECTIVE.
>> HOW DO THESE
THREE WORDS GO TOGETHER?
>> SHE IS IN THE 1% OF DEAF THAT
HAS NO RESIDUAL HEARING AT ALL.
>> LOTS OF PEOPLE.
>> SNACKS, MUSIC, AND LOTS OF
PEOPLE.
>> McFarland: ACCORDING TO
EXPERTS, WHEN THE HEARING LOSS
IS SO SEVERE THAT A HEARING AID
IS UNLIKELY TO PROVIDE
SUFFICIENT UNDERSTANDING,
A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED.
STUDIES SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO
ARE IMPLANTED BEFORE THE AGE OF
18 MONTHS TYPICALLY DEVELOP
SPOKEN LANGUAGE SKILLS EQUAL TO
CHILDREN THEIR OWN AGE WHO HAVE
NORMAL HEARING, ALL BY THE TIME
THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN.
>> HELLO, MR. JOHN, MY NAME IS
DARYA.
I'M A CLC NURSING STUDENT.
I'LL BE TAKING SOME OF
YOUR VITAL SIGNS TODAY, OKAY?
DARYA GANYUCHENKO TODAY LIVES IN
CHICAGO AND IS STUDYING TO BE
A NURSE.
UNLIKE MAX AND SKYE, DARYA WAS
BORN WITH THE ABILITY TO HEAR.
HER HEARING LOSS CAME AS THE
RESULT OF AN ILLNESS SHE HAD AS
A CHILD IN HER NATIVE UKRAINE.
>> I LOST MY HEARING TO
MENINGITIS IN UKRAINE.
>> McFarland: AFTER HER ILLNESS
AND EXTENDED HOSPITAL STAY,
DARYA AND HER FAMILY DECIDED TO
COME TO AMERICA TO FIND A
TREATMENT FOR HER HEARING LOSS.
>> HER FAMILY ACTUALLY
EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY WANTED
HER TO RECEIVE A COCHLEAR
IMPLANT.
SO I SAW HER NOT TOO LONG AFTER
THEY ARRIVED IN CHICAGO, AND SHE
WAS IMPLANTED SOON AFTER.
AND SHE HAS DONE REMARKABLY
WELL.
>> McFarland: COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
DIVIDE SOUND UP INTO BANDS,
OR CHANNELS OF SOUND.
THESE BANDS ARE ANALYZED AND
DIGITIZED, AND THE INFORMATION
IS TRANSMITTED TO A COMPUTER
IMPLANTED UNDER THE SKIN.
THAT INTERNAL PROCESSOR
DISTRIBUTES THE SOUND TO AN
ELECTRODE ARRAY WHICH DELIVERS
THE BANDS OF SOUND, BY WAY OF
ELECTRICAL IMPULSES, TO THE
INNER EAR.
THE INNER EAR IS ORGANIZED
TONOTOPICALLY, WITH HIGH-PITCHED
SOUNDS AT ONE END OF THE INNER
EAR AND LOWER-PITCHED SOUNDS AT
THE OTHER END.
THE ELECTRODE ARRAY INSIDE THE
INNER EAR STIMULATES THE PROPER
AREA FOR HIGH- VERSUS
LOW-PITCHED SOUNDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, HIGHER-PITCHED
SOUNDS ARE SENT TO THE
HIGH-FREQUENCY DETECTION AREAS
OF THE INNER EAR.
GENERALLY THE MOST DOMINANT
SOUND IN ANY BAND DETERMINES THE
LOUDNESS OF THAT BAND'S
PRESENTATION TO THE INNER EAR.
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS REQUIRE
PATIENTS TO UNDERGO A SURGICAL
PROCEDURE.
>> THE SURGERY WAS A LITTLE
SCARY.
MAX WAS REALLY YOUNG WHEN HE
WENT THROUGH THE SURGERY.
IT REQUIRES GENERAL ANESTHESIA.
HE WAS 6 1/2 MONTHS OLD.
>> I AM SAM.
>> AND WE CHOSE, BECAUSE MAX HAD
NO HEARING WHATSOEVER IN EITHER
SIDE, TO GO AHEAD AND DO A
BILATERAL SIMULTANEOUS IMPLANT,
WHICH WAS NEW AT THE TIME.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMMON NOW.
WE'RE FIVE YEARS INTO IT.
SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMMON.
BUT AT THE TIME, IT WAS PRETTY
CUTTING EDGE TO DO IT
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> YOU READY TO LISTEN NOW WITH
YOUR IMPLANT?
OKAY, LET'S LISTEN.
>> McFarland: AFTER
IMPLANTATION, CHILDREN REQUIRE
DEDICATED, DETAILED, AND
PROGRESSIVE SPEECH AND LISTENING
THERAPY FOR AT LEAST THREE
YEARS.
HOWEVER, IF DONE AT AROUND ONE
YEAR OF AGE, THE MAJORITY CAN BE
MAINSTREAMED INTO SCHOOL.
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY
FOLLOW UP LONG-TERM WITH THE
AUDIOLOGIST, NOT--YES, FOR
REPROGRAMMING AND
FOR RETUNING--BUT FOR MORE THAN
THAT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
THE AUDIOLOGISTS DO TESTS THAT
ACTUALLY MEASURE--NOT JUST IS
THE CHILD AWARE OF SOUND, WHICH
WE EXPECT WITH A COCHLEAR
IMPLANT, AND THAT THAT AWARENESS
BE IN THE NORMAL RANGE--BUT ARE
THEY DEVELOPING THE
UNDERSTANDING OF WORDS THAT WE
WOULD EXPECT.
>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
GOOD GIRL.
>> McFarland: FOR BOTH MAX AND
SKYE'S FAMILIES, WHEN THE
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS WERE ACTIVATED
SHORTLY AFTER SURGERY, THE
MOMENT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ALL.
>> I LOVE TO TALK.
I LOVE TO SPEAK, AND I WAS
CHOKED UP.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS TO MY
DAUGHTER AND JUST THE EMOTION
OVERCAME ME, AND I JUST LOOKED
AT HER AND I SAID, "HI, SKYE."
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SMILED
AND DOVE INTO MY CHEST AND JUST
STARTED LAUGHING.
AND SHE KEPT LAUGHING THROUGH
THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I WAS
TALKING TO HER.
I THEN TOOK HER OUT INTO THE
WAITING AREA, SHOWED HER THE TV,
BROUGHT HER INTO THE BATHROOM,
TURNED ON THE WATER ON THE SINK,
AND SHE WAS JUST AMAZED.
JUST THE JOY ON HER FACE AND THE
SURPRISED LOOK WAS INCREDIBLE.
[jazzy music]
♪ ♪
>> McFarland: TODAY, SKYE CARTER
HAS FOUND THAT HER TRUE PASSION
IS DANCING.
SHE DOESN'T ALLOW HER HEARING
LOSS TO SLOW HER DOWN.
♪ ♪
>> EVERY TIME I DANCE, IT'S LIKE
KIND OF BEING TRANSPORTED TO A
DIFFERENT WORLD, ALMOST.
LIKE, EVERYDAY WORRIES OF LIFE
DON'T SEEM TO MATTER ANYMORE.
I JUST DANCE, AND I DON'T HAVE
TO WORRY.
>> McFarland: DARYA HAS USED HER
NEW COCHLEAR IMPLANTS TO HELP
HER ACHIEVE HER DREAM OF
BECOMING A NURSE.
>> IF IT WASN'T FOR THE COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS, I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN
WHERE I AM TODAY, AT ALL.
I CAN TALK, AND I CAN BE IN
REGULAR CLASSES RIGHT NOW.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, I'VE APPLIED
INTO NURSING SCHOOL, WHICH IS A
PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE
CHALLENGED ON ALL OF YOUR
SENSES.
>> SHE SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE
HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A NURSE,
BUT SHE REALLY DIDN'T FEEL
CONFIDENT.
SHE DIDN'T FEEL THAT HER HEARING
WAS GOOD ENOUGH, AND SO SHE
WASN'T GOING TO PURSUE THAT.
BUT AFTER SHE GOT HER IMPLANT
AND SHE REALIZED HOW MUCH BETTER
SHE WAS HEARING, SHE FELT SO
MUCH MORE CONFIDENT THAT SHE
DECIDED THAT SHE WOULD REALLY
PURSUE HER DREAM.
AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DONE.
>> McFarland: IF HEARING LOSS IS
SUSPECTED, THERE ARE SOME SIGNS
TO LOOK FOR IN BOTH CHILDREN AND
ADULTS.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
HEARING AS THEY GROW OLDER, AND
WHILE HEARING LOSS CAN'T BE
COMPLETELY REVERSED, PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF
SILENCE AND ISOLATION.
COMING UP, WE'LL MEET TWO PEOPLE
WHO, OVER TIME, LOST THEIR
HEARING AS THEY AGED BUT ARE NOW
GETTING IT BACK THANKS TO RECENT
INNOVATIONS.
TO SEE THIS PROGRAM AGAIN OR TO
WATCH ANY OTHER PROGRAM IN THE
HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
SERIES, PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT:
>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REPEAT
THE SENTENCES JUST AS YOU HEAR
THEM.
"HE TRIED TO LEAVE..."
>> McFarland: MANY FACTORS CAN
PLAY A ROLE IN THE HEARING LOSS
THAT OCCURS AS WE AGE.
BUT JUST THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF
AGING IS OFTEN THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE.
>> LET'S TRY ANOTHER SENTENCE.
>> McFarland: WHEN HEARING LOSS
GOES UNDETECTED AND IGNORED, THE
RESULT CAN HAVE A PROFOUND
IMPACT ON THE PERSON'S QUALITY
OF LIFE.
>> CLASSIC IS: THE GRANDKIDS ALL
COME TO GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S
HOUSE.
GRANDPA SITS IN THE CORNER, AND
NOBODY TALKS TO HIM BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
NOW HE'S DEPRESSED.
HE DOESN'T WANT THE KIDS TO COME
OVER.
THEY JUST MAKE A RACKET, AND HE
UNDERSTANDS NOTHING ANYWAY.
BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU HAVE
HEARING LOSS, LOUD NOISE BOTHERS
YOUR EARS.
>> HEARING LOSS CAN BE
COMMUNICATED BY THE PATIENT IN
HOW WHAT THEY DON'T HEAR, WHAT
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT PEOPLE
HAVE WHEN THEY DO HAVE HEARING
LOSS IS THAT THINGS ARE NOT VERY
CLEAR.
>> McFarland: 90-YEAR-OLD
BLANCHE FIERSTEIN HAS WORKED IN
A FAMILY BUSINESS AND WAS AN
ASSISTANT BUYER IN A DEPARTMENT
STORE IN BALTIMORE.
SHE HAS RAISED THREE GROWN SONS.
FOR MOST OF HER ADULT LIFE, HER
HEARING HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY
MORE SEVERE, UNTIL THE POINT
WHERE SHE ONLY HAD 4% HEARING.
>> I CAN HEAR PEOPLE TALKING,
EVERYBODY JUST TALKING.
THERE'S PLENTY OF NOISE.
BUT MY TROUBLE
WAS THAT I HAD DIFFICULTY
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY
WERE SAYING.
>> McFarland: AND ACCORDING TO
HER SON CARL, SHE HAD BEGUN TO
WITHDRAW FROM HER FAMILY.
>> WELL, CERTAINLY SHE WAS NOT
PRESENT IN A CONVERSATION.
THERE WAS MORE ISOLATION ON HER
PART, A LOT MORE FRUSTRATION.
>> BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL DAY.
>> McFarland: IN BLANCHE'S CASE,
WHILE HEARING AIDS DID HELP HER
SOMEWHAT, IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE
RECEIVED COCHLEAR IMPLANTS THAT
SHE TRULY EXPERIENCED THE WORLD
OF SOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
YEARS.
>> IT WAS JUST LIKE THE WORLD
HAD OPENED UP, AND I REALIZED I
WAS ALIVE.
>> SHE'S DONE FABULOUSLY WELL
BECAUSE SHE'S REINTEGRATED WITH
FAMILY.
YOU TALK TO HER, MY STAFF TALKED
TO HER, AND YOU REALIZE THAT
THIS LADY HAS HAD HER LIFE
TURNED AROUND, BECAUSE NOW SHE
AND FAMILY CAN INTERACT
EFFECTIVELY.
>> WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IS THAT
HER WHOLE WORLD HAS OPENED UP.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A LITTLE KID
EXPLORING THE WORLD AGAIN.
[phone ringing]
>> HELLO?
>> McFarland: BARBARA CHERTOK
LOST HER HEARING SUDDENLY WHEN
SHE WAS 21 YEARS OLD.
BUT EVEN THEN, SHE DIDN'T ALLOW
HER HEARING LOSS TO NEGATIVELY
IMPACT HER LIFE.
>> WELL, I LOST MY HEARING IN
1957, WHEN I WAS 21, AND VERY
SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING,
AND PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT.
AS TIME WENT ON AND I REALIZED
IT WASN'T COMING BACK, YOU KNOW,
THE TEARS FLOWED, AND IT WAS
VERY UNPLEASANT.
>> McFarland: SHE ADJUSTED
HER LIFE TO ADDRESS HER HEARING
LOSS.
>> FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS AN
INSTANT LIP-READER, MAYBE
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A SINGER.
I HAD STUDIED OPERATIC VOICE IN
MY TEENAGE YEARS.
SO I WAS LIP-READING QUITE WELL
AND EVENTUALLY BECAME
A LIP-READING TEACHER 35 YEARS
LATER AND TAUGHT LIP-READING IN
MARYLAND FOR 10 YEARS.
>> McFarland: EVENTUALLY,
BARBARA CHOSE TO HAVE COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS FOR BOTH HER EARS.
>> I RECOMMEND THEM VERY
HIGHLY, BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE
MIRACULOUS INSTRUMENTS.
>> McFarland: ADVANCES IN
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS HAVE HELPED
MANY PEOPLE LIVE FULL, NORMAL
LIVES.
>> YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE'S 120
OVER 80.
THAT'S PERFECT.
>> McFarland: AS DARYA STUDIES
TO BE A NURSE, SHE LOOKS FORWARD
TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.
>> I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE FINE.
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR.
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE
TO WATCH TV.
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GO TO SCHOOL.
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
BASICALLY ANYTHING I WANT TO DO.
>> McFarland: MAX VAN ***
CONTINUES TO THRIVE WITH THE
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.
HIS MOTHER SAYS HE'S A HAPPY
CHILD WITH A TERRIFIC ATTITUDE.
>> HE'S NEVER LET ANYTHING STOP
HIM.
HE'S NEVER TAKEN HIS HEARING
LOSS AS A DEFICIT.
HE'S NEVER LOOKED AT IT AS
SOMETHING THAT MAKES HIM
DIFFERENT OR SHOULD HOLD HIM
BACK.
>> McFarland: MAX HAS ALWAYS
LOVED TO SWIM, AND UNTIL
RECENTLY, HE HAD TO REMOVE HIS
IMPLANT SYSTEMS' PROCESSORS
BEFORE GOING IN THE WATER.
BUT A NEW WATERPROOF DEVICE IS
NOW ALLOWING HIM TO HEAR
EVEN UNDERWATER.
>> HE'S HAD HIS COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS NOW FOR, OH, FOUR TO
FIVE YEARS, AND HE LOVES TO
SWIM.
AND JUST LAST WEEK, HE WAS
FITTED WITH A NEW EXTERNAL
PROCESSOR THAT IS WATERPROOF,
AND IT WILL ALLOW HIM TO HEAR
UNDERWATER.
AND HE'S VERY, VERY EXCITED TO
USE IT.
AND I KNOW HIS PARENTS ARE TOO.
>> SO THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THE
COCHLEAR IMPLANT: ONE THAT IS
SURGICALLY IMPLANTED UNDERNEATH
THE SKIN, BUT THERE'S AN OUTER
PART THAT LOOKS MUCH LIKE
A HEARING AID.
IN THE PAST, IF YOU WANTED TO GO
SWIMMING, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE
OUTER PART OFF.
A NEW SPEECH PROCESSOR HAS
BECOME AVAILABLE THAT CAN BE
USED JUST LIKE BEFORE, BUT NOW
YOU CAN SWIM WITH IT.
SO IT'S WATERPROOF.
IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE LIVES
OF KIDS WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO
SWIM EARLY IN THEIR LIVES.
>> HE COULD HEAR HIS COACH.
AND HE SWAM, AND HE SAID HE WAS
PERFECTLY ABLE TO HEAR HIM
UNDERWATER.
AND HE COULD FOLLOW THE
DIRECTIONS, AND I COULD JUST SEE
MAX'S CONFIDENCE GROWING.
LIKE, I--HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A KID
WHO LOVED BEING IN THE WATER AND
LOVED SWIMMING.
BUT I SEE NOW THAT THIS HAS JUST
OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR
HIM.
>> McFarland: AND MAX DELIGHTS
IN HEARING THE SOUNDS FROM THE
WORLD AROUND HIM.
>> HE SAID IT BEST.
HE SAID, "THIS IS AMAZING.
AND THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING."
AND HE WANTED TO HEAR HOW THE
JET SOUNDED.
AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, MOMMY,
I'VE NEVER HEARD THE JETS
BEFORE," THE WATER JETS.
"THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR ME.
YOU GUYS ALL HEARD IT BEFORE,
BUT NOW I GET TO HEAR IT."
AND IT'S--
JUST, IT'S LIFE-ALTERING.
>> NICE LITTLE QUICK BEAT.
GOOD FLOPPY FEET.
>> GREAT JOB, SKYE.
>> McFarland: SKYE CARTER'S
MOTHER SAYS HER DAUGHTER IS A
NORMAL, ACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN WHO
IS SUCCESSFUL ON MANY LEVELS,
ESPECIALLY AS A DANCER.
>> THE GALA WAS IN L.A., AND
SKYE WALKED THE RED CARPET WITH
MOVIE STARS.
AND THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE
THERE THAT JUST FELL IN LOVE
WITH HER, AND ONE WAS
DEBBIE ALLEN.
AND DEBBIE ALLEN SAW SKYE'S
PASSION FOR DANCING AND OFFERED
HER A SCHOLARSHIP.
>> McFarland: SKYE IS ALSO
A POET.
>> WELL, I LOVE MY LIFE.
THERE'S NOT ONE THING I WOULD
HONESTLY CHANGE ABOUT IT.
I AM WHO I AM.
PUSH ME DOWN, I'LL GET RIGHT
BACK UP.
SAY I'LL NEVER GET ANYWHERE,
I'LL TURN AROUND AND SAY, "WATCH
ME PROVE YOU WRONG."
DANCING IS MY LIFE.
>> I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HEARING
LOSS.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS AND SORT OF FELT SORRY
FOR MYSELF AT FIRST AND OUR
FAMILY.
AND THEN, AS THE YEARS WENT ON
AND I'VE SEEN THE LIVES THAT SHE
HAS TOUCHED AND WHAT SHE HAS
ACCOMPLISHED, I COULDN'T IMAGINE
HER ANY OTHER WAY.
>> McFarland: HEARING LOSS CAN
BE DEVASTATING FOR BOTH CHILDREN
AND ADULTS.
BUT THANKS TO INNOVATIONS IN
DIAGNOSIS AND NEW OPTIONS FOR
TREATING PROFOUND HEARING LOSS,
MANY PATIENTS TODAY DO NOT HAVE
TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF SILENCE.
ALL 50 STATES HAVE NEWBORN
SCREENING PROGRAMS TO CATCH
HEARING LOSS AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
AND IF HEARING LOSS IS DIAGNOSED
IN A RANGE OF SEVERE TO
PROFOUND, BOTH CHILDREN AND
ADULTS CAN OFTEN BENEFIT IF
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS ARE
CONSIDERED.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF
HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND.
I'M DR. SCOTT MCFARLAND.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THIS
PROGRAM AGAIN OR WATCH ANY OF
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PROGRAMS,
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>> announcer: MAJOR FUNDING
FOR HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
IS PROVIDED BY:
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS
CORPORATION,
WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES BY PIONEERING
NOVEL HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS.
AND BY: SANOFI,
A DIVERSIFIED GLOBAL HEALTH CARE
LEADER, DISCOVERS, DEVELOPS, AND
DISTRIBUTES THERAPEUTIC
SOLUTIONS FOCUSED ON PATIENTS'
NEEDS.
WE WORK TO PREVENT AND TREAT THE
DISEASES THAT WE KNOW OF TODAY
AS WELL AS THOSE WE MAY FACE
TOMORROW.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
ADVANCED BIONICS...
CAREFUSION...
AND BY UCB, INC.