Don Plapinger, EDDA, is director of the cochlear implant program. M.D. This clinic is involved in the management of difficult voice and speech problems including management of the professional voice. Speech pathologists and voice teachers are involved in the service. An oral quiz session for all residents is conducted one evening each week, nine months of the year. Residents attend special courses including soft tissue surgery, microanatomy and dissection of the temporal bone, laryngeal dissection, sinus surgery, and head and neck surgery.
Additional training is provided when individuals with special expertise are available.
Each resident is required to present a paper at a regional or national meeting. The audiologic staff provide an in-depth course with basic and advanced audiology for residents and medical students. Although the resident is expected to know how to perform audiometric testing and audiologic assessment, generally this is provided for by the audiologists. Residents will receive training in ABR and cochlear implants. The audiologic department fits and services hearing aids.