Assessment Tools and Practice Patterns in Adult Cochlear Implant Candidacy

The primary aim of this study was to examine adult pre-cochlear implant (CI) Spanish assessment tools and CI provider practice patterns used in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional survey directed to CI providers who assess CI candidacy in countries where Spanish is the primary language. Results: A total of 51 respondents were included in the study. Respondents represented eleven countries, 10 from the Latin American region, and one from Europe—Spain. The majority of respondents were audiologists (N=31/51, 60.7%) and most respondents worked in a private practice setting (N=37; 68.6%). For speech perception testing during CI evaluation, the majority of respondents use bisyllabic words (N=42/47; 89.4%) and nearly half (N=23/47; 48.9%) endorsed use of recorded materials. Fewer than half of respondents reported using hearing-specific (N=20/42; 47.6%) or tinnitus-specific (N=19/41; 46.3%) patient-reported-outcome- measures (PROMs) in CI assessments. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that bisyllabic words are the preferred and most commonly used tool for aided speech perception testing, aligning with regional guidelines and protocols in Spanish-speaking countries. Opportunities to improve quality of care include expanding the use of recorded materials for unaided and aided speech recognition testing and PROMs to capture the functional, emotional and social impact of hearing loss prior and after cochlear implantation. Additionally, the development of standardized guidelines and protocols that can be disseminated broadly would help ensure consistent assessment practices and improve care for Spanish-speaking patients worldwide.