Cochlear Implant Online was founded in 2001 by Rachel Chaikof who was a 14 year-old cochlear implant user at that time.  She wanted to create a better awareness of cochlear implants and that deaf children today can learn the language through hearing and speaking and so, she decided that creating a website would be effective.  She purchased a book called, “How to Build Web Pages for Dummies” and learned how to build a website.  In 2002, she was awarded in first place at the county level and the state level technology fair for her website.  Now today, Cochlear Implant Online receives about 200,000 to 500,000 hits per month.

 

Rachel Chaikof – Founder of Cochlear Implant Online – Rachel Chaikof is a bilateral CI user who received her first CI in 1989 when she was one of the first 200 children in US to be implanted and was raised with the Auditory-Verbal approach. While she maintains the website and is a blogger, she is also a speaker who has spoken at various places including Cochlear LTD in Sydney, Australia and Cora Barclay Center in Adelaide, Australia.

Click here to read more about Rachel.

 

Jessica Chaikof – Guest Blogger – Jessica Chaikof is the younger sister of Rachel who happened to be born deaf.  She was implanted at the age of 15 months old in 1996, which made her the youngest child to be implanted at that time.  She was also raised with the Auditory-Verbal approach.  She is just an ordinary child who loves to read, especially Harry Potter, write, and watch TV.

Click here to read more about Jessica.

 

Elizabeth Boschini – Guest Blogger – Elizabeth joined in 2008 as a guest blogger for Cochlear Implant Online to provide her perspective as a young professional. She is an aspiring Speech-Language Pathologist, Auditory-Verbal Therapist, and Oral Deaf Educator.

Click here to read more about Elizabeth.