2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/19/2024 | 9:40 AM - 10:05 AM | Audiology Barriers to Cochlear Implantation for Children with Hearing Loss | Capitol 5
Audiology Barriers to Cochlear Implantation for Children with Hearing Loss
Research suggests that only about 50 percent of children who could potentially benefit from a cochlear implant actually receive a cochlear implant. In contrast, 90 percent or more of pediatric cochlear implant candidates in many European countries and Australia receive a cochlear implant. The Cochlear Implant – Patient Access to Hearing (CI-PATH) Pediatric Collaborative is comprised of a group of pediatric hearing healthcare professionals, early interventionists, educators, advocates, and family members of individuals with hearing loss who desire to make cochlear implants more accessible to children who are likely to benefit from the technology and whose families wish to pursue cochlear implantation to optimize their children’s development and potential. In previous meetings, the CI-PATH Pediatric Collaborative has identified numerous barriers that impede children’s access to cochlear implantation. The CI-PATH group also engaged in the A3 problem solving process to identify potential solutions to these barriers. This presentation will provide a summary of the audiology barriers that impede children from receiving a cochlear implant when needed. This presentation will also describe numerous countermeasures and potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. Additionally, this presentation will describe three ongoing projects that aim to create and implement solutions to each of three audiology-related barriers that limit children’s access to cochlear implantation. Specifically, these three potential solutions include the establishment of evidence-based audiology referral criteria for cochlear implantation for children, the creation of simple messaging associated with the potential benefits and limitations of cochlear implants for children, and the development of training programs to educate audiologists, early interventionists, and other professionals regarding pediatric cochlear implant candidacy, benefits, and additional considerations.
- Describe a summary of the audiology and other miscellaneous barriers that impede children’s access to cochlear implantation.
- Describe three countermeasures developed by a group of pediatric hearing healthcare providers to overcome common audiology barriers to cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss.
- Describe three ongoing projects designed to improve access to cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss.
Presentation:
3478265_16449JaceWolfe.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
3478265_16449JaceWolfe.docx
Presenters/Authors
Teresa Caraway
(Primary Presenter), Oberkotter Foundation , tcaraway@oberkotterfoundation.org;
Teresa H. Caraway, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, CEO of the Oberkotter-Foundation and Hearing First, supports families and professionals on the Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) journey through advancing science and innovation, raising awareness, increasing access and education and coordinated hearing health care. With more than 35 years experience in Auditory-Verbal practice, consulting, and presenting, Dr. Caraway thrives on leading change in knowledge, skills, and systems so that individuals with hearing loss can reach their full auditory potential. Dr. Caraway has served as the Founding CEO of Hearing First, Founding President of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language and Co-Founder and Executive Co-Director of Hearts for Hearing. She served on the Board of Auditory-Verbal International and was a founding board member of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Oberkotter Foundation.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Oberkotter Foundation, Hearing First.
Nature: None.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Joanna Smith
(Co-Author), Hearts for Hearing, joanna.smith@heartsforhearing.org;
Joanna Smith, M.S., Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, is the Chief Executive Officer of Hearts for Hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -