It’s a Friday morning, and UNC Greensboro’s Speech and Hearing Center has the warm feel of a group of friends catching up. The conversation flows so easily, despite that two members in the group would be unable to hear without a small electronic device visible just behind the ear.
The meeting of graduate students in the School of Health and Human Sciences’ Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and older adult community members is part of a leading-edge research project measuring the impact of support provided to older adults with cochlear implants.
“We’re the exception rather than the rule here,” said Dr. Denise Tucker, Professor and principal investigator for the project. “It’s not common for late-deafened adults with cochlear implants to have this kind of opportunity.”