August 26 - The Callier Center

Max went to the Callier Center today on the UTD campus to be fitted for hearing aids. Since Max' deafness is profound, the hearing aids will provide only coarse input to the auditory cortex of his brain through bone induction. He won't actually be "hearing" sounds as much as perceiving different types of vibrations. This will allow him to discern if the room is quiet or some sound occurring - and the relative volume and pitch of those sounds. Additionally, stimulation of the auditory cortex keeps the neural pathways active, which prevents them from becoming irreversibly atrophied - leaving the door open for a potential cochlear implant in the future.