Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center
In recent years, hearing treatment has been considered to be the factor that can contribute most significantly to changing the state of dementia. On the other hand, hearing loss and dementia are expected to increase in Japan, which has long been an ultra-aging society. In addition, one in every 1,000 children born has hearing loss. In this situation, solving the problem of hearing can be said to be an important social issue. Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center was opened in April 2021 to solve the problem of hearing by conducting cutting-edge research on the ears, which capture the most distal sound, to the brain, which interprets the sound, and by dealing with it comprehensively from a broad perspective that includes not only medical care but also education and welfare.
Currently, Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center
1. Hearing-related treatment
2. Research leading to new medical treatment for hearing loss
3. Core Function Strengthening Project for Supporting Hearing Impaired Children (Commissioned by Kobe City)
Our activities are centered around these three areas:
About medical treatment
General and specialized medical care related to hearing loss is performed in the medical framework of the "Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center" outpatient for Otorhinolaryngology. Specialized treatments such as cochlear implant surgery.
You need to make an appointment to see a doctor, and you can make an appointment by fax or online at the medical institution you are currently seeing (clinic, hospital, etc., even if you are not Otorhinolaryngology, you can also make an appointment with your family doctor, such as an internal medicine doctor). Please do You can also ask for a 'second opinion' about your current medical treatment for hearing loss. For details, please refer to the items of "For first-time patients" and "Second opinion" on our website.
About research
It is not enough to say that hearing care is currently covered by health insurance alone. Research that overcomes the inadequacies of current medical care and leads to new medical care is important, and Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center is currently conducting the following clinical research. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
- Effects of cochlear implants on brain metabolism in elderly severely deaf people
- Examination of the relationship between intraoperative EABR test and postoperative cochlear implant stimulation intensity in cases of inner ear/inner ear canal malformation
- Research on genetic analysis of hearing loss and its clinical application
- Research contributing to the development of speech rehabilitation for cochlear implant users
- Research that contributes to the development of comprehensive hearing-related brain function tests for cochlear implant recipients
- Evaluation of the Japanese version of the remote check in cochlear implant recipients
Kobe City Support Core Function Strengthening Project for Hearing Impaired Children
Hearing loss in children affects language and social development, and requires continuous support over a long period of time, with the cooperation of many specialized organizations such as medical care, welfare, and education. At Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center, we carry out the "Project to Strengthen the Core Functions of Support for Hearing Impaired Children" commissioned by Kobe City and promoted by the Children and Families Agency.We have assigned coordinators with highly specialized knowledge to provide the following support. We offer
- We provide information on medical care and education for hearing-impaired children to the families of babies who have been judged to require a detailed hearing test in a newborn hearing screening test at an obstetrician, and also provide direct consultations. In addition, we have created a booklet for families, "If you are told that your baby needs to be examined because of your hearing," so we will send it to you if you wish.
- Medical consultation and support for hearing aids and cochlear implants for children with hearing loss and school children
- We provide consultations on medical care, rehabilitation, and education from families of hearing-impaired children who attend local nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, and special needs schools. If necessary, our coordinator will visit nursery schools, kindergartens, schools, etc. to provide explanations, guidance and support to concerned parties and parents.
- Holding workshops to support hearing-impaired children
- Management of the Kobe City Support Council for Hearing-Impaired Children
Hearing-impaired child support workshop
【Guidance】
If you would like to watch the training video, we will send you the password at a later date.
Please contact the e-mail address of Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center.
① Lecturer: Gaku Fujita, Lecturer, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital
Title: "Medical Knowledge of Pediatric Hearing Loss: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment of Hearing Loss"
② Lecturer: Masahide Otsu, Head of the Director Otorhinolaryngology Hyogo Prefecture Children's Hospital
Title: "Newborn Hearing Screening and Hearing Aids"
(3) Lecturer: Yasushi Naito Head of Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center Otorhinolaryngology Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital
Title: "Indications for Cochlear Implant and Postoperative Rehabilitation"
① Lecturer: Dr. Natsumi Uehara, Assistant Professor Head and Neck Surgery Kobe University Hospital
Title: "Actual and Precautions of Hearing Test for Infants"
② Lecturer: Dr. Sayaka Katsunuma, Director the Otorhinolaryngology, Hyogo Children's Hyogo Prefecture
Title: "Pediatric otitis media: its pathology and its effects on the treatment of hearing-impaired children and countermeasures"
Lecturer: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
AKIRA ISHIYAMA, Professor Head and Neck Surgery and Chief of Neuro-Otology
Title: “Current status of childhood hearing loss screening, early intervention, and rehabilitation in the United States”
(1) Lecturer: Mr. Koichi Motohisa, Sonova Japan Co., Ltd.
Title: "Basic Usage and Application of Wireless Digital Transmitting and Receiving System (Roger)"
(2) Lecturer: Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital
Title: "Mapping and Hearing in Children with Cochlear Implants"
1. Lecturer: Dr. Natsumi Uehara, Assistant Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital
Title: "How to treat children with hearing loss and multiple disabilities"
②Lecturer: Rumi Shimizu, speech-language-hearing therapist Kobe City Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center
Title: "Therapeutic care and education for children with hearing loss -Kobe City Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center Maruyama Gakuen, Hibari Class"
1. Speaker: Saburo Moroto (Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist), Coordinator of Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital
Title: "Reasonable consideration in inclusive education: In the case of hearing-impaired infants and children"
②Lecturer: Ms. Sayuri Wakamatsu Hyogo Prefecture Special Needs School for the Hearing Impaired
Title: "Support for parents of infants and young children at our school"
③Lecturer: Yumi Takahama Hyogo Prefecture Special Needs School for the Hearing Impaired
Title: "Educational activities at special schools for the hearing impaired"
Lecturer: Director of Clinical Research (Sensory Organs) Center, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center: Dr. Kimitaka Kaga
Title: "History, current status, and future prospects for medical and therapeutic treatment for hearing loss in young children"
Guidance from Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center
We have prepared a leaflet for families and an explanation booklet for those who are told that a detailed examination is required for newborn hearing screening.
● "For families concerned about their baby's hearing"
● "If you are told that your baby's hearing requires a detailed examination - Detailed examination and medical care/education after neonatal hearing screening -"
● "Handbook for Supporting Children with Hearing Impairments"
Comprehensive Ear and Hearing Center Contact Information
Phone: 078-302-4516 (direct)
FAX: 078-302-7246 (Direct)
Email: c_choukaku@kcho.jp
