Cochlear Implant Training in Doctor of Audiology Programs: A Survey Study

PURPOSE: As the population of cochlear implant (CI) candidates and recipients grows, there is a need for more audiologists to meet their clinical needs. Little information exists regarding the perception of recent doctorate of audiology (AuD) graduates and the training they received related to CI. METHOD: We surveyed audiologists who graduated from an accredited AuD program between 2017 and 2023 and asked them several questions about their level of satisfaction regarding their AuD studies. The survey included questions about current work setting, areas of rotation available, and instructor characteristics related to areas in the AuD. RESULTS: Respondents demonstrated high levels of satisfaction with their AuD training overall; 93% reported they were "very" or "somewhat" satisfied. Sixty-three percent reported they were "completely" or "somewhat satisfied" with the training related to CI. Most dissatisfied respondents reported that this was due to limited opportunities for hands-on work with the CI population. Seventy-two percent indicated they were "very" or "somewhat satisfied" with their CI instructor, and many tended to report higher satisfaction when instructors were clinicians with practical experience. CI rotations with adults were more prevalent than pediatric CI placements, and both were rated as less available than pediatric and adult hearing aids and diagnostic testing. A significant number of recent graduates reported gaps in their learning of topics related to insurance, reimbursement, billing, and coding. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that most recent graduates are satisfied with their AuD training. Areas for improvement that may result in larger numbers of graduates pursuing a career in CI include improved CI-focused clinical rotations and practical opportunities.