The unit -- which is surgically implanted behind the ear into the cochlea-- recreates sound and allows these kids to hear noises and speech.

"They don't hear like we hear. They hear clicks and beeps. We teach the kids to interpret clicks, sounds as speech," said Beth Longenbaugh, a teacher at Burleson.

The program has been at the school for two years. "We serve all of the El Paso County area. So we deal with children from Fort Hancock, Fabens, Socorro, Ysleta -- any child who has an implant is eligible," Longenbaugh said.

Because it's easier for young children to learn new languages, it's optimal for children to receive the implant between the ages of 3 and 5.

To a person with a hearing impairment, the challenge of hearing against background noise can be a daily frustration. To a young child who is hearing-impaired, a noisy environment and the subsequent effect on communication can be frightening and exhausting. For this child's classroom, consideration must be given to minimizing those obstacles to learning and comfort that noise creates.

Deaf students with cochlear implants at Burleson Elementary are taught in small groups, and that supports their learning environment.

From Kvia.com