Sight + Sound Bites: From Evaluation and Surgery to Life with a Cochlear Implant

Philip Perez, MD, Emily Kate Feibelman, AUD, and Elena LaQuatra, WTAE news anchor and cochlear implant recipient speak about the evaluation process, surgery, and life with a cochlear implant.

Dr. Perez subspecializes in Otology and Neurotology and is board-certified in Neurotology by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He treats the full range of otologic and neurotologic disorders, with a clinical focus on cochlear implantation and treatment of vestibular schwannoma. Dr. Perez is also interested in health disparities in minority populations and expanding UPMC’s outreach to underserved communities through work with the Birmingham Free Clinic and Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh. He serves on the board of Pittsburgh’s Center for Hearing and Deaf Services and as Co-Medical Director of the Western Pennsylvania Lion’s Hearing Foundation.

Dr. Feibelman received her bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders from the University of Alabama and her doctorate degree in audiology from the University of Louisville. Prior to joining the staff at the UPMC Eye and Ear Institute in 2021, she worked as an audiologist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where she also completed her externship. Her primary interests include cochlear implant assessment and programming, diagnostic testing, and hearing aids. She is a member of the America Speech-Language Hearing Association and is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania.

Elena LaQuatra is a news anchor for Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. At the age of four, Elena lost 100% of her hearing in both ears due to bacterial meningitis. After receiving a cochlear implant at UPMC, Elena attended the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech in Pittsburgh for four years to regain her listening and spoken language skills. In 2021, she was appointed to The Board of Trustees for DePaul, giving back to the school that once gave so much to her. In her spare time, she serves as Mistress of Ceremonies for fundraising galas nationwide and as an ambassador to numerous non-profit organizations. Elena was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA in 2016.

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