1114 Copper Ave. Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-242-5212 fax (505) 242-0556
peimm@aol.com
| The Presbyterian Ear Institute (PEI) is a nonprofit certified 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1987 to provide services for the hearing impaired in the regional Southwest. PEI operates five main programs: A Rehabilitation Center, a Research and Education Program, a Universal Infant Hearing Screening Program, a Cochlear Implant Program, and La Voz de Ninos Oral School. Most people are unaware that deaf children can talk, and that learning to talk is a realistic option for deaf children. La Voz de Ninos Oral School is the first oral school to be founded in the United States in over thirty years, and it is rapidly becoming a model educational program for hearing-impaired children. While other education programs teach sign language, our school uniquely concentrates on teaching speech, language, lip-reading and auditory training. Developing the ability to speak provides opportunities for deaf children to participate more fully with the hearing community. 
The teachers and speech/language pathologists at La Voz de Ninos Oral School are specially trained to teach hearing-impaired children how to talk without the use of signs. Presently, the teacher-student ratio is 1 to 4. Expertise in teaching spoken language coupled with current technological advances such as cochlear implants allow the staff to present a custom designed program for each child. At La Voz de Ninos, the goal is to ensure that all children develop their speech, language, academic and social skills to a level that will bring them success in a mainstream classroom setting. The annual cost of educating each hearing-impaired student is approximately $18,000. Most of the families are not able to pay the full tuition and rely on financial assistance so that their child may receive the intensive oral instruction needed to learn to talk. Presbyterian Ear Institute is fortunate to have obtained a matching grant from a private family foundation to match all monetary donations made to the Institute. |
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Our Programs |
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Cochlear Implant Program |
The cochlear implant program provides pediatric and adult implant evaluations and diagnostics to determine candidacy for cochlear implantation. Rehabilitation post-implantation for adults and children with cochlear implants. |
Universal Infant Hearing Screening Program |
In conjunction with Children's Medical Services, Presbyterian Ear Institute has assisted in the initiation and implementation of a statewide universal newborn hearing-screening program. |
La Voz de Ninos Oral School |
La Voz de Ninos provides hearing-impaired
children with the opportunity to learn to talk. The staff consists of
teachers and speech language pathologists who are skilled and knowledgeable
about teaching language and speech to hearing-impaired children. The
school is able to tailor instruction to fit the individual needs of
each student, and to prepare him/her for an eventual transition into
regular classrooms with hearing peers.
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Parent-Infant Program |
A habilitative program individualized for hearing-impaired
children, birth to 3 years of age and their families. Services include
direct speech, language and auditory therapy for the infant in coordination
with parent support and education.
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Speech and Language Diagnosis and Therapy |
This program specializes in the auditory/oral diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders related to hearing loss of any degree. |
