Barbara Mellert - The Best Advice for Parenting Children With Cochlear Implants

Barbara Mellert is a cochlear implant advocate and has worked as an Academic Technology Consultant at Dartmouth College for more than 20 years. She started as an advocate with her two children, both of whom have bilateral cochlear implants. She runs the Facebook page “Parents of Children with Cochlear Implants,” which currently has over 14,000 members. She is also on the board of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance as a parent representative.

In this episode…

Being the parent of a child with hearing loss can be especially difficult. It’s not only dealing with the normal stresses of parenthood but also wading into uncharted territory for most. One of those challenges includes navigating hearing technology. However, there are many supportive communities built around facing these obstacles together.

Barbara Mellert is the mother of two sons, both with bilateral cochlear implants. Her experience has taught her a lot, so she now commits to helping others with the Facebook group, “Parents of Children with Cochlear Implants,” which supports more than 14,000 members. She is familiar with both advocacy and parenting, and is happy to share her knowledge with all who want to hear.

Dr. Mark Syms has an illuminating conversation with Barbara Mellert, Academic Technology Consultant at Dartmouth College and cochlear implant advocate, to discuss parenting children with cochlear implants and advocacy for the technology. They start with Barbara’s own story and how her boys went on to live fulfilling lives. They then cover the positive effects and common hesitations of cochlear implants. They also touch on the need for understanding educational environments and more.