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10/13/2017  |   1:45 PM - 2:45 PM   |  West Ballroom at Shalala Student Services Building

Cochlear Implants: What are the barriers and what can we do to improve access?

Cochlear implant utilization in the United States is about 6 percent of adults and children who are candidates for the intervention. Pediatric use in children is higher than that of adults but is still well below that in many other European countries, Canada, and Australia. The US experience is an interesting case study for other regions of the world. This presentation will discuss and explore the main factors that contribute to low utilization of the cochlear implant technology. Clinic and hospital financial issues, including cost and reimbursement for elements of the cochlear implant procedure, are an access factor though other elements of the referral environment have also been determined to be very important and to impact significantly on access. With the introduction of a lower cost, Chinese-produced cochlear implant and possibly one made in India, cost barriers may come down. Low awareness and understanding about outcomes among the general population and even among hearing healthcare professionals such as audiologists and hearing aid specialists is a key factor impacting on access to care. Other health-related referral networks, such as primary care physicians and pediatricians, do not routinely refer patients for cochlear implantation, as one would expect with a standard of care intervention. After reviewing the main access factors, the presentation will interactively discuss solutions and opportunities for professionals, consumers, parents and other advocates to proactively change the access to care challenge that currently exists for cochlear implantation.

• Explain why cochlear implants are so underutilized in many areas of the world despite cost effectiveness and quality of life benefits as treatment for severe to profound hearing loss in adults and children.
• Explore the implications of not considering deafness within a healthcare “standard of care” context
• Suggest ways in which individuals and organizations from various regions of the world could proactively work to change cochlear implant access for children and adults who could benefit

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Donna Sorkin (POC,Primary Presenter), American Cochlear Implant Alliance, dsorkin@acialliance.org;
Donna Sorkin is executive of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, a national organization devoted to expanding access to cochlear implantation for all who may benefit. She has had a long career in advocacy for people with hearing loss at non-profit and for-profit entities. She was previously executive director of two organizations: Hearing Loss Association of America (an organization for adults) and Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (with a focus on children). Ms. Sorkin served for 11 years as Vice President, Consumer Affairs at Cochlear Americas where she led public policy initiatives and other activities aimed at the broad life needs of cochlear implant users including insurance coverage, habilitation for children and adults, and educational needs of children with cochlear implants. She has served on federal, corporate and university boards including the U.S. Access Board (as a Presidential appointee) and the National Institute on Deafness (National Institutes of Health) Advisory Board. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Gallaudet University. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.