Barriers to Adult Cochlear Implant Care in the United States: An Analysis of Health Care Delivery

• Published in: Seminars in hearing Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 311 - 320
• Main Authors: Nassiri, Ashley M., Marinelli, John P., Sorkin, Donna L., Carlson, Matthew L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.11.2021; Thieme Medical Publishers Inc
• Series: Barriers to Cochlear Implant Access: Acknowledging the Challenges, Changing the Future
• Subjects: Adults; Cochlear implants; Health care access; Health care delivery; Hearing disorders; Hearing loss; Hearing protection; Review; Review Article; Sensorineural hearing loss; Surgery; Transplants & implants; United States > US; health disparities; hearing loss; cochlear implant; patient experience; barriers to care
• ISSN: 0734-0451; 1098-8955
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739281

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.