Business Details
27 Years
experience
Comprehensive Hearing Rehabilitation Services
NECHEAR is a specialized rehabilitation facility established in 1999 dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals with hearing loss across all age groups. Our team approach integrates audiological expertise, aural rehabilitation, and educational support to maximize auditory access and spoken language development. With a focus on early intervention, we provide comprehensive services including diagnostic testing, device programming, and therapeutic strategies tailored to each patient's unique needs. Our staff of audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and listening specialists collaborate closely with families and educators to ensure optimal outcomes. We maintain state-of-the-art facilities while preserving a welcoming environment that fosters patient comfort and engagement.Our commitment to community outreach extends through professional training programs, parent education initiatives, and participation in national conferences. The organization's leadership includes recognized experts in cochlear implant programming and pediatric audiology, with active involvement in industry task forces and research initiatives. Our clinical approach emphasizes individualized care plans that evolve with patients' needs throughout their lifespan. We maintain partnerships with educational institutions to support classroom-based accommodations and assistive technology implementation. Continuous quality improvement remains central to our mission of enabling full community integration for individuals with hearing impairments.
Services
Early Intervention
Audiological Evaluations
Cochlear Implant Services
Aural Rehabilitation
Educational Consultation
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of specialized experience in hearing rehabilitation
- Our team includes nationally recognized experts in pediatric audiology
- We provide individualized care plans tailored to each patient's needs
- We maintain partnerships with educational institutions for classroom support
- Our facility combines advanced technology with a family-friendly environment
Services
Early Intervention
Specialized programs for infants and toddlers with hearing loss focus on early diagnosis and auditory development. Our team provides family-centered care through home visits, device programming, and therapeutic strategies to maximize language acquisition. Services include parent coaching and collaboration with medical specialists to ensure comprehensive care.
Audiological Evaluations
Comprehensive diagnostic assessments utilize advanced technology to measure hearing capabilities across all age groups. Testing includes immittance measures, otoacoustic emissions, and functional listening evaluations in controlled environments. Results guide personalized treatment plans and device recommendations for optimal auditory access.
Cochlear Implant Services
Full-service cochlear implant care includes candidacy evaluations, device programming, and post-implantation rehabilitation. Our specialists work with all major manufacturers to optimize device performance through mapping sessions and auditory therapy. Ongoing support ensures long-term success with implant technology.
Aural Rehabilitation
Therapeutic programs improve listening skills and communication abilities for hearing aid and cochlear implant users. Individualized sessions focus on speech perception, auditory processing, and assistive technology integration. Therapy combines technical support with practical communication strategies for daily life application.
Educational Consultation
Classroom-based services optimize learning environments for students with hearing loss. We provide acoustic assessments, assistive technology recommendations, and staff training to support educational success. Collaboration with school teams ensures appropriate accommodations and Individualized Education Program (IEP) implementation.
People
Jennifer Cox
Audiologist, Co-Director
Specializes in pediatric diagnostics and aural rehabilitation with University of Connecticut training. Focuses on family-centered care and early intervention best practices. Director of NECHEAR PALs program.
Kristin Dilaj
Audiologist, Co-Director
Expert in cochlear implant programming and pediatric audiology. Serves on Connecticut Early Hearing Detection Task Force and leads NECHEAR's clinical program. Research focuses on mainstream access for hearing-impaired children.
Diane Brackett
Speech-Language Pathologist
Co-founder with expertise in mainstreaming hearing-impaired children. Focus areas include bilateral cochlear implants and auditory-based language learning. Former director of UCONN's Childhood Hearing Impairment Program.
Jessica Hasbrouck
Auditory Verbal Therapist
Specializes in spoken language development through listening. Connecticut AG Bell chapter president with focus on rehabilitation's role in device programming and mainstream education success.
Ali Marinelli
Clinical Audiologist
Dual-degree specialist in aural rehabilitation and psychosocial aspects of hearing loss. Former LEND trainee with focus on comprehensive care approaches for hearing-impaired individuals.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We provide services for infants, children, and adults with hearing loss through specialized programs tailored to each developmental stage.
Do you work with cochlear implant users?
Yes, we offer comprehensive cochlear implant services including candidacy evaluation, device programming, and post-implantation rehabilitation with all major manufacturers.
How do you support educational needs?
Our educational consultants provide classroom assessments, assistive technology recommendations, and staff training to support students with hearing loss in school environments.
What diagnostic services are available?
We offer comprehensive audiological evaluations including immittance testing, otoacoustic emissions, functional listening assessments, and device candidacy evaluations for all ages.
Do you accept insurance?
We work with most Connecticut insurance plans and can assist with understanding coverage for audiology services and hearing devices.
What makes your approach unique?
Our team approach combines audiological expertise with therapeutic services and family-centered care to maximize outcomes through early intervention and personalized treatment plans.
Reviews (4)
Amanda LaRochelle
Dec 17, 2019
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The staff is always so nice and pleasant. I wouldnt go anywhere else for my son. They take their time with him and work with him when it comes to his testing.
Mandee Sowden
Jul 21, 2019
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This is the best(and coolest)office I have ever been to. They worked extremely well with my 4 year old son and he can't wait to go back! Highly recommend!
Tara Lee
Aug 05, 2018
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They are extremely educated and have the most patience. They are so nice and sincerely care about their patients. I wouldnt go anywhere else for my sons hearing needs.
Feyza Menagi
Dec 13, 2017
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I have nothing but the highest praise for NECHEAR and all the staff. We drive to NECHEAR from an hour away for appointments because they are simply the best when you have a young child with hearing loss.
Clinically they are very strong and we have developed a close relationship with Kristin, who has been programming and mapping my daughter with expert care...one of the speech pathologists begins doing words lists with my daughter as Kristin is behind the computer and I can literally hear my daughter's speech and words becoming clearer. We have been to other audiologists in Connecticut and New
Clinically they are very strong and we have developed a close relationship with Kristin, who has been programming and mapping my daughter with expert care...one of the speech pathologists begins doing words lists with my daughter as Kristin is behind the computer and I can literally hear my daughter's speech and words becoming clearer. We have been to other audiologists in Connecticut and New
