What happens when my
practice refers patients?
How your practice can support patients undergoing CI treatment.
Combine your expertise, pioneering technology, and insights from experienced surgeons to deliver optimized patient care. As your patients consider and prepare for the journey ahead, they may experience a range of emotions. Having a better understanding of what to expect along the way can help bring peace of mind. Get the information you need to prepare your patients for what’s to come, and access helpful resources to help educate them along the way.
What happens after a patient referral?
Patient Candidacy Evaluation
- Various candidacy tests using tones, words, and sentences with hearing aids
- If you are not a cochlear implant candidate, different options discussed
- Cochlear implant candidates schedule appointment with surgical implant physician
Implant Physician Appointment
- Determine medical candidacy for the implant procedure and schedule imaging appointment
- Insurance verification and pre-certification
- Schedule implant procedure
Pre-Surgical Appointment With Audiologist
- Set personal goals for hearing with a cochlear implant and/or bimodal solution
- Choose the cochlear implant sound processor and your personal accessories
- Discuss expectations and next steps
Implant Surgery
- Outpatient surgery procedure (typically takes 2 hours)
- Device is implanted via a small incision behind the ear
- Most patients can return to normal activities within a few days of surgery
Activation and Programming
- Takes place approximately 3-4 weeks after surgery
- Program and turn on your sound processor
- Orientation and introduction to equipment and hearing therapy
Life With a Cochlear Implant
- Over the next few months, patient will continue working with their audiologist to fine tune the device for optimal hearing
- Ongoing hearing therapy
What can patients expect?
Many factors contribute to improved hearing performance. In addition to significantly improved scores in word recognition and sentences in noise, research and decades of experience have demonstrated that hearing implants provide:
- Improved speech and language skills 1,2
- Improved anxiety & depression 3
- Improved quality of life 3,4,5
1. Runge, C.L., Henion, K., Tarima, S., Beiter, A., & Zwolan, T.A. (2016) Clinical outcomes of the CochlearTM Nucleus® 5 Cochlear Implant System and SmartSoundTM 2 signal processing, Ear & Hearing, 27, 425-440.
2. Internal data. Best aided condition (bilateral hearing aids in 76% of cases; unilateral hearing aids in 24% of cases) preoperative vs. implant ear only at 12 months post-intervention implant ear N=38 Nucleus 5 clinical trial subjects
3. Clark, J. et al (2012). Cochlear implant rehabilitation in older adults: Literature review proposal of a conceptual framework. Journal of the American Geriatric Society 60, 10, 1936-1945.
4. Lenarz, T. et al (2017) Patient-related benefits for adults with cochlear implantation: a multicultural longitudinal observational study. Audiology & Neurotology. 22, 61-73
5. Damen, G. (2007) Cochlear implantation and quality of life in postlingually deaf adult: long-term follow-up. Otolaryngology Head Neck 36, 597-604.
Patient Journey Resources
How to use the New Referral Feature in the Sycle Software
Many cochlear implant recipients could benefit from a bimodal hearing solution (a hearing aid + cochlear implant). If your patient is struggling to hear with their hearing aids and their word recognition score is 40% or less in either ear […]
New Video
Clinic Owners Share Stories of Increasing Referrals
Making a cochlear implant referral may seem like a net loss of a patient, but real-life results say otherwise. In this video, three board certified hearing instrument specialists — clinic owners Toby Hill, Dennis Thomas and Joe Bartlett — […]
60-60 Guideline Counseling Resource Helps Answer Patient Questions. Free digital and printed guide.
You may have seen the published study outlining when to refer a patient for a cochlear implant evaluation and followed the 60-60 guidelines. What happens next? When you recommend a patient be seen for a cochlear implant evaluation, there are […]
The Link Between Hearing Loss & Other Conditions
Over the last couple of months, we shared with you consumers’ understanding of hearing loss and what can be considered normal hearing. And, as hearing care professionals, the goal of educating your patients on the risks of leaving hearing loss […]
Hearing Health Collaborative: Understanding Hearing Loss
Can your patients tell you what “normal hearing” is? Most likely they know what normal vision and blood pressure are, as that’s ingrained in us at such a young age. It’s no wonder that patients deprioritize managing their hearing health when […]
Hearing Health Collaborative: Prioritizing & Managing Hearing Health
In April, we shared with you consumers’ understanding of hearing loss and what can be considered normal hearing. Beyond their understanding of hearing loss, respondents were surveyed about where they prioritize health conditions and life activities, and how they manage […]
Patient-Focused Care: When it’s time to begin discussing CI with your patient.
We recently sat down with Dr. Ken Martin, Au.D., of Ken Martin Audiology, to learn how using the CI feature in Sycle enables him to counsel his patients for their best possible hearing. Our Continuum of Care interview, ‘Patient-Focused Care: […]
60-60 Cochlear Implant Referral Criteria for Adults
Dr. Terry Zwolan, former Director of The University of Michigan Cochlear Implant Program and current Director of Audiology at Hearing First, recently published a study that evaluated when to refer patients for a cochlear implant evaluation. We wanted to understand […]
Expanding Your Services to Meet the Growing Needs of Patients
Dr. Joanie Davis, F-AAA, CCC-A, Board Certified Doctor of Audiology and owner of Davis Family Hearing, had a big dilemma on her hands – was there anything else she could do to help patients struggling with hearing aids? That’s when […]
Cochlear Provider Network Professional Testimonial: Joanie Davis (Part 4)
Implementing CI services into your practice can bring about many benefits to the clinic. Practice Differentiation, continued learning, additional referrals, being a part of a medical model are among a few. In the final video of our 4-part series, Joanie […]