Clinical Research Findings

Proceedings for CI2015 Emerging Issues have been published in Cochlear Implants International, Volume 17, 2016 – Issue 5.  The principal goal of this conference was to open the pathways between research and clinical application in the cochlear implant realm by facilitating timely sharing of information between scientists, clinicians, and educators. Cochlear implant candidacy and outcomes have advanced reflecting technology improvements, early identification, and better linkage between the surgical intervention and follow-up care. Children and adults with a range of hearing losses and other issues are now benefiting importantly from traditional cochlear implants as well as electric-acoustic stimulation and auditory brainstem implants.

Cochlear implant candidacy guidelines have changed to include children and adults with more residual hearing as well as other anatomic, health, and learning issues that would have been considered “absolute” or “relative” contraindications in the past. Utilization of other technologies, in combination with the cochlear implant device, have provided further expansions in outcomes bringing recipients even closer to “normal” hearing. With all of these changes have come a new recognition of the quality of life changes and cost utility made possible when the right device is matched to appropriate patients.

Proceedings articles represent the six emerging issues that were the focus of CI2015:
1. Auditory Brainstem Implants in Children
2. Expanded Indications for Cochlear Implantation
3. Literacy and Cochlear Implantation: Outcomes and Intervention Strategies
4. Objective Measures for Cochlear Implantation
5. Quality of Life and Cost-Effectiveness of Cochlear Implantation
6. Cochlear Implant Connectivity to Other Technologies

To download the proceedings as a free to view PDF, visit the Taylor and Francis website: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14670100.2016.1225348