I am an audiologist in private practice and have enough of a hard time keeping up with hearing aid technology, let alone cochlear implants. I don't see cochlear implant patients in my practice, but would at least like to stay current on when to refer. Any suggestions?
Answer
The first step for professionals is to be familiar with FDA-approved cochlear implant criteria. Different cochlear implant manufacturers have different candidacy criteria. Cochlear America's Nucleus criteria is provided below as one reference. It can be taped up in a conspicuous place so it is in plain view and not filed away and forgotten. Also refer to the Joint Audiology Committee Statement on Cochlear Implant Assessment (see reference list). Next, identify cochlear implant centers in your area and open lines of communication with them. Discuss with them about how you can share in the care of patients you both serve. About three quarters of those people who have a cochlear implant only have one. As implant criteria expands, people with more usable hearing are being implanted. That means more are likely to benefit from also using a hearing aid in the non-implanted ear (a bimodal device fitting). Finally, become an expert in fitting of bimodal devices (Huart & Sammeth, 2008). Few clinics have the time, equipment, and inclination to fit both hearing aids and cochlear implants. The audiologist who knows about cochlear implant criteria and is also proficient in bimodal fitting will have a distinct advantage in a competitive hearing aid market.
Criteria for Cochlear America's Nucleus cochlear implant. Source: Cochlear Americas.
References
Huart, S., Sammeth C. (2008). Optimizing the bi-modal fitting. Hearing Journal, 61,11,54-58.
Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Algorithms and Statements. (2000, August). Audiology clinical practice algorithms and statements. Audiology Today, Special Issue 2000.
Steven A. Huart, Au.D., has over 20 years experience in audiology and hearing aid dispensing. Most of his career has been spent in the clinic seeing patients and fitting hearing aids. Huart was an Instructor in Audiology at Mayo Clinic Arizona and Adjunct Faculty at Arizona School of Health Sciences until he became the Director of Professional Development for AmplifonUSA. He joined Cochlear Americas in 2007 where his goal is to help dispensing professionals identify and refer those patients who no longer benefit from amplification.
help dispensing professionals identify and refer those patients who no longer benefit from amplification
Steven A. Huart, Au.D., has over 20 years experience in audiology and hearing aid dispensing. Most of his career has been spent in the clinic seeing patients and fitting hearing aids. Huart was an Instructor in Audiology at Mayo Clinic Arizona and Adjunct Faculty at Arizona School of Health Sciences until he became the Director of Professional Development for AmplifonUSA. He joined Cochlear Americas in 2007 where his goal is to help dispensing professionals identify and refer those patients who no longer benefit from amplification.
Related Courses
1https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/singing-in-rain-using-music-22785Singing in the Rain: Using Music to Reinforce Listening (Professionals)Presented by Christine Barton, this course provides participants with additional approaches to using music for spoken language development in young deaf and hard of hearing children. A special emphasis on the use of songs that focus on listening and language development while a young child is playing in the water will be provided.textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comSinging in the Rain: Using Music to Reinforce Listening (Professionals)Presented by Christine Barton, this course provides participants with additional approaches to using music for spoken language development in young deaf and hard of hearing children. A special emphasis on the use of songs that focus on listening and language development while a young child is playing in the water will be provided.22785OnlinePT60M
'interesting to hear perspective of a music therapist who works with CI users'Read Reviews
No CEUs/Hours Offered
Presented by Christine Barton, this course provides participants with additional approaches to using music for spoken language development in young deaf and hard of hearing children. A special emphasis on the use of songs that focus on listening and language development while a young child is playing in the water will be provided.
2https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/best-practices-for-cochlear-implant-33025Best Practices for Cochlear Implant Candidacy: Pediatrics, in partnership with American Cochlear Implant AllianceThis course examines both the Food and Drug Administration and best-practice candidacy assessment practices for pediatric cochlear implantation. Medical, audiology, speech-language pathology, and other assessments and considerations will be discussed to help identify best practices for candidacy determination.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comBest Practices for Cochlear Implant Candidacy: Pediatrics, in partnership with American Cochlear Implant AllianceThis course examines both the Food and Drug Administration and best-practice candidacy assessment practices for pediatric cochlear implantation. Medical, audiology, speech-language pathology, and other assessments and considerations will be discussed to help identify best practices for candidacy determination.33025OnlinePT60M
This course examines both the Food and Drug Administration and best-practice candidacy assessment practices for pediatric cochlear implantation. Medical, audiology, speech-language pathology, and other assessments and considerations will be discussed to help identify best practices for candidacy determination.
3https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/implementation-cochlear-implants-enhanced-candidacy-37377Implementation of Cochlear Implants: Enhanced Candidacy Criteria and Technology AdvancesThe participant in this course will understand the extended candidacy criteria with cochlear implantation and expectations. The course will cover implanting under age one, hybrid hearing with cochlear implantation, CI under local anesthesia, single-sided deafness, cochlear implantation, and auditory brainstem implantation.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comImplementation of Cochlear Implants: Enhanced Candidacy Criteria and Technology AdvancesThe participant in this course will understand the extended candidacy criteria with cochlear implantation and expectations. The course will cover implanting under age one, hybrid hearing with cochlear implantation, CI under local anesthesia, single-sided deafness, cochlear implantation, and auditory brainstem implantation.37377OnlinePT60M
The participant in this course will understand the extended candidacy criteria with cochlear implantation and expectations. The course will cover implanting under age one, hybrid hearing with cochlear implantation, CI under local anesthesia, single-sided deafness, cochlear implantation, and auditory brainstem implantation.
4https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/using-gsi-for-cochlear-implant-39682Using GSI for Cochlear Implant EvaluationsThis course is designed to educate audiologists on the practical workflow for patients who require cochlear implants. From Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indications and Medicare requirements to pre-op and post-op evaluations, audiologists will gain a clear understanding of the cochlear implant process.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comUsing GSI for Cochlear Implant EvaluationsThis course is designed to educate audiologists on the practical workflow for patients who require cochlear implants. From Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indications and Medicare requirements to pre-op and post-op evaluations, audiologists will gain a clear understanding of the cochlear implant process.39682OnlinePT60M
This course is designed to educate audiologists on the practical workflow for patients who require cochlear implants. From Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indications and Medicare requirements to pre-op and post-op evaluations, audiologists will gain a clear understanding of the cochlear implant process.
5https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/adult-assessments-in-hearing-healthcare-38660Adult Assessments in Hearing Healthcare: Working Across the ContinuumThis five-course series on adult assessments in hearing health is intended to stimulate collaborative approaches for hearing health professionals, regardless of what hearing technologies they typically provide. Ideally, professionals will support patients in their long-term hearing loss journey, facilitating transitions when appropriate and a comfortable sense of the range of ways hearing loss can be addressed throughout one’s hearing journey.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comAdult Assessments in Hearing Healthcare: Working Across the ContinuumThis five-course series on adult assessments in hearing health is intended to stimulate collaborative approaches for hearing health professionals, regardless of what hearing technologies they typically provide. Ideally, professionals will support patients in their long-term hearing loss journey, facilitating transitions when appropriate and a comfortable sense of the range of ways hearing loss can be addressed throughout one’s hearing journey.38660OnlinePT300M
This five-course series on adult assessments in hearing health is intended to stimulate collaborative approaches for hearing health professionals, regardless of what hearing technologies they typically provide. Ideally, professionals will support patients in their long-term hearing loss journey, facilitating transitions when appropriate and a comfortable sense of the range of ways hearing loss can be addressed throughout one’s hearing journey.