Presenter: 

Meredith Holcomb, AuD

CEUs: 0.1 AAA / Tier 1 CEUs

Duration: 60 minutes

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Program Focus: Knowledge 

Description:

The utilization rate for cochlear implants in the U.S. adult population is 2-12 percent. In large part, this is due to ambiguity and confusion of cochlear implant (CI) candidacy amongst all hearing-health-care providers (audiologists, physicians, and hearing instrument specialists). Patients who need a CI often spend many years in hearing aids that are not providing adequate amplification and speech understanding. This webinar will cover how to identify CI candidates in your practice, when to refer patients for CI evaluation, and how to counsel patients through this process. Current CI technology, candidacy, and evidence-based outcome data will be discussed. Resources and tools for patients will be outlined, and case studies will be used to demonstrate CI outcomes. 

Learning Outcomes:  

1. Participants will be able to identify patients who should be referred for a formal CI evaluation.

2. Participants will be able to understand current FDA CI criteria for adults.

3. Participants will be able to describe benefits of CI over hearing aids.

Meredith Holcomb, AuD

Meredith Holcomb, AuD, CCC-A is an Associate Professor and Director of the Hearing Implant Program at the University of Miami Ear Institute. She received her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has spent her 18 years of professional service as a cochlear implant audiologist. She is a past chair of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance Board of Directors and she currently serves as an audiology consultant for Advanced Bionics, Cochlear, Med El, Hemideina, and Akouos. Dr. Holcomb is also faculty member for the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training Advanced Audiology Course, serves on the Joint Committee for Infant Hearing and the AAA Coding and Reimbursement Committee.