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 or their PTA is 70dB or more on either ear they may qualify for a bimodal hearing solution.
The resources below are to help you, as the hearing professional, guide your patient to an implantable hearing solution evaluation, to help determine candidacy.
Next Steps:
- Did you start a Cochlear™ referral within the Sycle Software by clicking the green “Connect to Concierge” button?
- If not, be sure to go back to your Sycle software and start the referral process for your patient. Click the green “Connect to Concierge” within the software and enter your patient’s information.
- By starting a Cochlear™ referral within the software, you will generate a notification to Cochlear’s dedicated concierge team to contact your patient. The concierge team at Cochlear is a team of implantable solution experts dedicated to providing education and support to patients.
- The concierge will then contact your patient via email or phone to answer any questions they may have and help find a provider who will perform an implantable hearing solution evaluation. Inform your patients to be on the lookout for communications from Cochlear and to respond so they can receive more information.
Learn how to make a Cochlear referral
Once you make the patient referral, your patient may have questions, below are resources to help support your patients along their hearing journey.
Many times, when introducing a cochlear implant, patients are unclear as to why they need to look at options beyond hearing aids. This graphic can help patients understand as hearing loss progresses and communication challenges become greater, additional technology can better meet their needs.
This resource can be shared with your patients to understand what occurs in an evaluation appointment and potential questions they can consider asking during their visit.
References:
1. Buchman CA, Herzog JA, McJunkin JL, et al. Assessment of Speech Understanding After Cochlear Implantation in Adult Hearing Aid Users: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online August 27, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.1584
2. Dorman MF, Gi_ ord RH, Spahr AJ, McKarns SA. The benefits of combining acoustic and electric stimulation for the recognition of speech, voice and melodies. Audiology and Neurotology. 2008;13(2):105-12.
3. Giff ord RH, Dorman MF, McKarns SA, Spahr AJ. Combined electric and contralateral acoustic hearing: Word and sentence recognition with bimodal hearing. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 2007 Aug 1; 50(4):835-43
