Cochlear Implant Programming
Los Alamos

No Sound And No Answers After Activation

Activation day is supposed to be the moment everything changes, so it's frightening when the sound isn't there, or doesn't sound right and no one explains why. Dr. Coltisor works directly with your surgeon through the whole process, from insurance authorization through activation, so mapping is never handed off to someone who's not familiar with your situation. You leave every appointment already knowing your next one. If something feels wrong between visits, you can text or email her directly.

"The mantra that I have my patients recite is, 'I will complain.' Because it's so important for them to know that communication is encouraged." - Dr. Coltisor

"It's You, Not The Implant"

Being told your frustration is a personal failing, not a device or programming problem, is one of the most common complaints from cochlear implant patients everywhere. Dr. Coltisor works from a different premise. If a mapping session isn't giving you the clarity you expected, that's information to explore further - your appointment isn't over until you have a plan. She tells every patient the same thing: communicate your needs, even if the message isn't polite, and it will get taken care of. You're never handed off to a call center or a rotating technician between visits.

Driving Hours For Every Mapping Appointment

Española Hospital doesn't have a cochlear implant program, and neither does any hospital between Los Alamos and Santa Fe. Patients from Española and the surrounding Rio Arriba communities have had to drive 60 to 80 miles each way to Albuquerque for mapping, often several times in the first year alone. The Central Ave clinic in Los Alamos is 15 to 20 minutes from Española by NM 502, and for patients who can't make even that drive, mapping appointments are available as a home visit. A cochlear implant program shouldn't require a full day off work every few weeks.

Everyone Sounds Like Mickey Mouse At First

Robotic voices, cartoon pitches, an underwater feeling: almost everyone describes activation day sounding strange before it sounds right, and knowing that ahead of time makes it far less alarming when it happens. Dr. Coltisor walks you through what to expect before activation, preparing you for the day of. Because full rehabilitation is often a team effort, she builds you a structured at-home listening plan and connects you with a speech-language pathologist when that piece of therapy is needed. She sees herself as just one part of your care team and coordinates that process instead of leaving you to manage it.

Days Without Sound When Your Processor Breaks

Losing sound completely while a processor is off being repaired is one of the most stressful parts of living with a cochlear implant, especially if you can't reach anyone until the next scheduled opening. Dr. Coltisor's patients have her direct contact information for exactly this reason. You can text her if something breaks or a setting suddenly feels wrong, rather than waiting on hold or leaving a message with a front desk. Repair and reprogramming appointments are also available as a home visit for patients who can't easily get to the Los Alamos office while managing device trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will insurance call this "just a hearing aid" and deny it?

Cochlear implant programming is billed and covered differently than hearing aids, and insurance companies sometimes confuse the two. Dr. Coltisor works directly with your surgeon and your insurance company on authorization rather than leaving you to sort out paperwork alone. Getting her first New Mexico cochlear implant patient approved took real advocacy and documentation, a detailed process. If your coverage gets miscategorized, this is exactly the kind of situation she handles.

How many mapping appointments will I need the first year?

Mapping sessions are typically more frequent in the first few months after activation, then spaced out as your hearing nerve and brain adapt. Every patient's schedule looks a little different. Dr. Coltisor sets your appointments around your actual progress rather than following a generic template, and because she's the only provider doing your mapping, your history carries over from one visit to the next instead of starting over each time.

What if I don't hear better after I get my map?

That feeling is valid, and it doesn't mean the implant failed or that you did something wrong. Appointments don't end until you and Dr. Coltisor have a plan, whether that means adjusting settings again or scheduling a follow-up sooner than usual. She tells patients to speak up about anything that sounds off, even if it feels like a small complaint. Communication between visits, by text or email, is part of how mapping actually gets dialed in.

Is getting the implant really just the beginning of the work?

Yes. Surgery and activation are the starting point, and the real progress happens over the months of mapping and rehab that follow. Dr. Coltisor builds patients a structured at-home listening plan and refers them to a speech-language pathologist when formal auditory rehabilitation is needed, since that therapy falls outside what an audiologist alone provides. She considers herself one part of your care team, coordinating with your surgeon and therapist rather than leaving you to manage it alone.

Is there a cochlear implant specialist near me in New Mexico?

Dr. Coltisor is one of only a handful of audiologists in New Mexico who program cochlear implants for adults, based at the Central Ave clinic in Los Alamos. She also sees cochlear implant patients at a satellite office in Santa Fe, where most of her referrals are specifically for cochlear implant care. For patients in Albuquerque or Northern New Mexico who find it difficult to travel, mapping is also available as a home visit.