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Smeal MR, Coto J, Prentiss S, Stern T, VanLooy L, Holcomb MA. Cochlear Implant Referral Criteria for the Spanish-Speaking Adult Population. Otol Neurotol 2024; 45:e71-e77. [PMID: 38082461 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000004065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of the "60/60 Guideline" in a diverse patient population. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Data were collected for adult patients (18 years and older) who underwent a cochlear implant evaluation (CIE) between January 2016 and March 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Development of the "60/60 Guideline" has provided better clarity on when to refer English-speaking patients for a CIE. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of this referral tool in the Spanish-speaking population. RESULTS In our group of patients who underwent a traditional CIE (n = 402), 209 met unaided and aided traditional cochlear implant (CI) candidacy criteria. Of the 193 individuals who did not meet both components of traditional candidacy criteria, a majority met the aided component (86%) but only 4.6% met the unaided component. When applying the 60/60 Guideline to patients who met traditional criteria, there is a sensitivity rating of 84.7% and a specificity index of 50.3%. For English and Spanish speakers who met traditional criteria but did not meet the 60/60 Guideline, a majority (83.3% English, 87.5% Spanish) had a better ear word recognition score (WRS) greater than 60%, suggesting the unaided WRS is the more restrictive component of the "60/60 Guideline." CONCLUSION Application of the "60/60 Guideline" is an effective method to identify potential CI candidates in the English-speaking population; however, it was less effective in the Spanish-speaking population. Spanish-speaking adults should be referred for a CIE when better ear pure tone average is greater than 60 dB hearing loss, regardless of their unaided WRS. This study highlights the need for inclusion of nonlinguistic test measures in the CI referral criteria and test battery to reduce CI access barriers for patients who speak a language other than English.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly R Smeal
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Miami, FL
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Mashal M, Au A, Leigh J, Távora-Vieira D, Wedekind A, Pedley K, Swiderski N, Chester-Browne R, Balke C, Brew J, Arkcoll A, Dahm MR, Boisvert I. Perspectives on Support Material for Referrals to Cochlear Implantation Teams. Am J Audiol 2022; 31:11-20. [PMID: 35041798 DOI: 10.1044/2021_aja-21-00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study used a collaborative approach to explore the needs, barriers, and facilitators to developing cochlear implant referral information material that would be valuable for hard of hearing adults and referring audiologists. METHOD During the development of a prototype referral aid to be used within the Australian context, a multistage qualitative study was conducted using a consultative process, informal and semistructured interviews, as well as online surveys. A deductive directed content analysis approach was applied to assess respondents' perspectives. A total of 106 participants (37 hard of hearing adults and 69 audiologists) were involved across the multiple phases of this study. RESULTS Referral practices for the evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy in Australia are highly inconsistent, supporting the need to streamline referral information. The following facilitators were identified to support the development of referral material: appropriate content, perceived patient benefit, and objectivity. Areas for improvement related to the broadness of the content, impact on professional identity, and accessibility. CONCLUSIONS Practical insight from patients and referrers can inform the development of patient-facing material related to cochlear implant referrals. Streamlining information used in educational material could alleviate confusion inherent to varied health literacy levels and support patients in making informed decisions related to pursuing, or not, cochlear implantation candidacy evaluation services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Mashal
- H:EAR (Hearing: Education, Application, Research), Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Agnes Au
- HEARnet, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jaime Leigh
- HEARnet, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Cochlear Implant Clinic, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
| | - Dayse Távora-Vieira
- Audiology Department, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, Perth, Western Australia
| | | | - Karen Pedley
- Attune Hearing Implant Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jane Brew
- SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Maria R. Dahm
- Institute for Communication in Health Care (ICH), The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
| | - Isabelle Boisvert
- H:EAR (Hearing: Education, Application, Research), Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- HEARnet, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Ngombu SJ, Ray C, Vasil K, Moberly AC, Varadarajan VV. Development of a novel screening tool for predicting Cochlear implant candidacy. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2021; 6:1406-1413. [PMID: 34938881 PMCID: PMC8665459 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cochlear implantation (CI) is a well-established treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. Due in part to a lack of referral guidelines, CI technology remains underutilized, and many patients who could benefit from CI may not be referred for evaluation. This study aimed to develop a model for predicting CI candidacy using routine audiometric measures, with the goal of providing guidance to clinicians regarding when to refer a patient for CI evaluation. METHODS Unaided three-frequency pure tone average (PTA), unaided speech discrimination score (SDS), and best-aided sentence recognition testing with AZBio sentence lists were collected from 252 subjects undergoing CIE. Candidacy was defined by meeting traditional (AZBio score ≤ 60%), or Medicare criteria (≤40%). A logistic regression model was developed to predict candidacy. Confusion matrices were plotted to determine the sensitivity and specificity at various probability thresholds. RESULTS Logistic regression models were capable of predicting probability of candidacy for traditional criteria (P < .001) and Medicare criteria (P < .001). PTA and SDS were significant predictors (P < .001). Using a probability cutoff of .5, the models yielded a sensitivity rate of 91% and 78% for traditional and Medicare criteria, respectively. CONCLUSION Probability of CI candidacy may be determined using a novel screening tool for referral. This tool supports individualized counseling, serves as a proof of concept for candidacy prediction, and could be modified based on an institution's philosophy regarding an acceptable false positive rate of referral. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany J. Ngombu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryWexner Medical Center at The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Christin Ray
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryWexner Medical Center at The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Kara Vasil
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryWexner Medical Center at The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Aaron C. Moberly
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryWexner Medical Center at The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Varun V. Varadarajan
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryWexner Medical Center at The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
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Nassiri AM, Marinelli JP, Sorkin DL, Carlson ML. Barriers to Adult Cochlear Implant Care in the United States: An Analysis of Health Care Delivery. Semin Hear 2021; 42:311-320. [PMID: 34912159 PMCID: PMC8660164 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent underutilization of cochlear implants (CIs) in the United States is in part a reflection of a lack of hearing health knowledge and the complexities of care delivery in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. An evaluation of the patient experience through the CI health care delivery process systematically exposes barriers that must be overcome to undergo treatment for moderate-to-severe hearing loss. This review analyzes patient-facing obstacles including diagnosis of hearing loss, CI candidate identification and referral to surgeon, CI evaluation and candidacy criteria interpretation, and lastly CI surgery and rehabilitation. Pervasive throughout the process are several themes which demand attention in addressing inequities in hearing health disparities in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Nassiri
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - John P. Marinelli
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, Texas
| | | | - Matthew L. Carlson
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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