Oldest Patient on Record, 99, Receives Cochlear Implant

[Guest guest]

NJ.com - December 13, 2010

Picture: http://tinyurl.com/2et3jbd

----------------

Summit Medical Group surgeon implants cochlear device into 99-year-old

patient

Hedwig Christoph, age 99, doesn't want to miss a single sound this holiday

season. And following her Dec. 10 surgery, the Califon, NJ resident will be

able to hear better than she has for quite awhile -- bells ringing, children

singing -- the glorious gift of hearing will be hers before the New Year.

At 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, Christoph underwent surgery to receive the

N-5 Cochlear Implant, a device that helps deliver sound to people with

severe-to-profound hearing loss. Otologist/neurotolgist, Jed A. Kwartler,

MD, of the Berkeley Height-based Summit Medical Group, performed the surgery

on Ms. Christoph, who is the oldest patient on record to receive a cochlear

implant.

The surgery took approximately one hour and the device will be activated --

she will hear -- in approximately three weeks. Medicare paid for the $30,000

device.

Ear surgeon Jed Kwartler performed New Jersey's first cochlear implant in a

child in 1993. He is an advocate for adults and children who are hard of

hearing and has delivered local, national, and international invited

presentations and taught courses about age-related hearing loss, hearing

loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation, and the latest surgical treatments

for profoundly deaf children and adults. He serves on international panels

that evaluate the latest implantable and semi-implantable hearing devices.

Hedwig Christoph wants to remain engaged in life and according to her

doctor, is more than capable. She actively sought out this device as a way

to improve her quality of life.

[Guest guest]

Here's a video, discovered on the Summit Medical Group's website:

http://tinyurl.com/3jcxdcn

CC available ( YouTube)

Bob

..............

>

> NJ.com - December 13, 2010

>

> Picture: http://tinyurl.com/2et3jbd

>

> ----------------

> Summit Medical Group surgeon implants cochlear device into 99-year-old

> patient

>

> Hedwig Christoph, age 99, doesn't want to miss a single sound this holiday

> season. And following her Dec. 10 surgery, the Califon, NJ resident will

be

> able to hear better than she has for quite awhile -- bells ringing,

children

> singing -- the glorious gift of hearing will be hers before the New Year.

>

> At 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, Christoph underwent surgery to receive

the

> N-5 Cochlear Implant, a device that helps deliver sound to people with

> severe-to-profound hearing loss. Otologist/neurotolgist, Jed A. Kwartler,

> MD, of the Berkeley Height-based Summit Medical Group, performed the

surgery

> on Ms. Christoph, who is the oldest patient on record to receive a

cochlear

> implant.

>

> The surgery took approximately one hour and the device will be activated

--

> she will hear -- in approximately three weeks. Medicare paid for the

$30,000

> device.

>

> Ear surgeon Jed Kwartler performed New Jersey's first cochlear implant in

a

> child in 1993. He is an advocate for adults and children who are hard of

> hearing and has delivered local, national, and international invited

> presentations and taught courses about age-related hearing loss, hearing

> loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation, and the latest surgical

treatments

> for profoundly deaf children and adults. He serves on international panels

> that evaluate the latest implantable and semi-implantable hearing devices.

>

> Hedwig Christoph wants to remain engaged in life and according to her

> doctor, is more than capable. She actively sought out this device as a way

> to improve her quality of life.

>