Australian cochlear implant research has been showcased in a special supplement in the latest edition of the International Journal of Audiology (IJA).
This rare special issue supplement summarises two decades of research conducted by the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), The University of Melbourne and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. It draws together an incredible evidence-base dating from the very first multichannel cochlear implants in the early 1980’s, and is intended to help hearing clinicians get the best possible outcomes for their cochlear implant patients.
Edited by highly experienced researchers Professor Richard Dowell, Dr Karyn Galvin and Professor Robert Cowan, the supplement features a collection of peer-reviewed clinical papers specifically written to provide an evidence-base to help clinicians make informed decisions about their clients’ suitability for cochlear implantation.
HEARing CRC CEO Professor Cowan said our aim in this special issue was to share our insights gained from systematic, long-term clinical studies of a large cochlear implant population.
“In particular, we wanted to provide audiologists and clinicians with new insights into the barriers and facilitators to successful cochlear implantation in light of how much candidacy has expanded in recent years,” Prof. Cowan said.
“This supplement presents the latest evidence-based, decision-making approaches in recommending cochlear implants to specific adult and paediatric users, as well as focusing on how hearing health professionals can optimise the long-term hearing outcomes for implant users in specific client populations.”
“The IJA Supplement should really be viewed as a valuable resource for clinicians wanting to gain a better understanding of a technology that has a widening application in hearing loss remediation.”
Through Cochlear Limited’s strong commitment to ongoing research and development, cochlear implant technology has steadily evolved, leading to an exponential increase in the number of infants, children, adults and the elderly who can benefit from it. Clinicians have been faced with an expanded range of cochlear implant technology as well as far broader criteria for candidature.
This special issue supplement provides evidence-based insight and analysis of actual patient outcomes to guide clinicians and candidates in making informed choices about benefits from a cochlear implant.
Interested researchers and clinicians can download a copy of the International Journal of Audiology’s Supplement 2, 2016, Cochlear Implantation: Optimizing Outcomes Through Evidence-based Clinical Decisions the IJA on-line, or contact The HEARing CRC directly.
The HEARing CRC is an internationally unique, interdisciplinary collaboration of research, clinical, industry and educational organisations on the twin challenges of more effective prevention and improved remediation of hearing loss. Building on more than two decades of internationally competitive research and innovation, the work of the HEARing CRC is driven by the end-user, for the end-user. For more information, visit hearingcrc.org.
