Better defining best-aided condition: The role of hearing aids on cochlear implantation qualification rates

Anthony M Tolisano, Lilly B Fang, Joe Walter Kutz, Brandon Isaacson, Jacob B Hunter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Describe the effect of hearing aid type used during cochlear implantation evaluation on qualification rates.

METHODS: Consecutive adult patients at an academic cochlear implant program undergoing cochlear implantation evaluation were identified to determine cochlear implantation qualification rate according to history of hearing aid use and type of hearing aid used during evaluation.

RESULTS: 609 patients met criteria. 90.1% of patients reported prior use of a hearing aid, and 77.4% reported current use of a hearing aid. Patients were most likely to undergo cochlear implantation evaluation utilizing their own personal hearing aids exclusively (61.6%) followed by loaner hearing aids fitted at the time of the evaluation (28.2%). White patients were more likely to be tested using personal hearing aids (OR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.43 to 4.71). Married patients were more likely to be current hearing aid users (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.51) and were more likely to be tested using personal hearing aids (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.56). Patients with a history of any hearing aid use (OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.42 to 4.40) and current hearing aid use (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.49) were more likely to qualify for cochlear implantation. Patients tested using personal hearing aids were 1.5 times more likely to qualify for cochlear implantation (95% CI 0.99 to 2.27).

CONCLUSION: History of hearing amplification and current amplification predict cochlear implant qualification. Hearing aids fitted at the time of cochlear implantation evaluation may result in lower qualification rates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)102431
JournalAmerican journal of otolaryngology
Volume41
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cochlear Implantation
  • Female
  • Hearing Aids
  • Hearing Loss/therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Better defining best-aided condition: The role of hearing aids on cochlear implantation qualification rates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this