Access to Cochlear Implantation is a new supplement to the peer-reviewed journal Cochlear Implants International, published by Maney Publishing, Philadelphia, that will provide unique insights into the issues of access to cochlear care, according to the publisher. The supplement’s mission is to review the diversity and important commonalities of cochlear implant availability in five countries: Belgium, China, Japan, the UK, and the US.
It was organized by the newly formed American Cochlear Implant Alliance—a not-for-profit organization of cochlear implant professionals and consumer advocates—which is working to remove barriers to access in the United States. Donna Sorkin, MA, a long-time advocate for people with hearing loss and a former director of both SHHH (now HLAA) and AG Bell, is the organization’s executive director. John Niparko, MD, chair of the University of Southern California’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, is the Alliance’s chair.
The supplement will also explore why so many children and adults who could benefit from cochlear implants are not receiving the intervention. Utilisation by children varies greatly with only 50% of eligible children in the US receiving cochlear implants compared with 90% or more of children in many European countries, according to ACIA. Adult utilisation of cochlear implants was 5% or less across all five countries examined. The reasons identified for low utilisation include low awareness of the benefits in the general population, and health care professionals; the lack of specific referral pathways; political issues relative to the Deaf community, particularly in the US; financial issues related to provision; and stringent candidacy requirements.
The articles in the supplement cover all these issues, and it is hoped that through dialogue and understanding all eligible children and adults will receive the treatment they deserve and the benefits of cochlear implantation.
“Access to Cochlear Implantation’ provides unique insights into the underlying reasons for low utilization of cochlear implants around the world,” says Dr Niparko. “Given the societal savings associated with cochlear implantation, the observations reported here deserve serious consideration.”
The online supplement is open access and is now available via ingentaconnect. The print version is available to purchase at www.maneypublishing.com/journals/prices/cim/. ‘Access to Cochlear Implantation’ has been published online via Maney’s open access model MORE OpenChoice. For further information visit www.maneypublishing.com/moreopenchoice.
Source: ACI Alliance
