NEW AudiologyOnline course – Candidacy and Counseling for Cochlear Bone Conduction Solutions

It is estimated that there are 60,000 new cases of single-sided deafness (SSD) every year in the US.¹ However, only 20% of those with hearing loss seek treatment.²

Individuals with SSD experience an impact on their binaural hearing that can significantly impact, sound localization, communication and social interaction.³ Patients struggle so much that, they often report retreating from small and large group conversations altogether.

This is why it’s so important to take action early and not let the patient’s hearing loss go untreated.

For SSD, steroids and CROS hearing aids tend to be first-line solutions—steroids are a default treatment for sudden SSD and CROS Hearing Aids are a less invasive option. However, when these treatments are ineffective, or patients are unsatisfied with hearing performance, bone conduction implants such as the Cochlear™ Baha® System should be considered as a next line of treatment.⁴  In a market research study of 29 clinicians that use the Baha System as a treatment option for hearing loss, they collectively said when their SSD patients were treated with a bone conduction implant it was the most successful treatment. Nearly 9 out of 10 times it served as the last or final line of treatment for patients with SSD; continued treatment was no longer necessary.* However, SSD patients will continue to receive routine adjustments and rehabilitation.

Take this Audiology Online course to learn more about the four steps of identifying and treating SSD patients with a bone conduction implant:

• Step 1: Consider common SSD patient characteristics (age, cause, patient attitude and history)

• Step 2: Audiometric testing

• Step 3: Clinical benefit evaluation

• Step 4: Counsel the candidate

• Step 5: Refer to ENT specialist for consultation

The course will help you gain a better understanding of candidacy, patient impact and the treatment options available for this condition. CEUs are offered.

Course: Hearing from the other side: Understanding the Candidacy for SSD and Treatment Options

CEUs/Hours offered: 1 hour course for CEU credit

Course Learning Objectives:

1) After this course, participants will be able to identify single sided deafness and list challenges faced by patients with SSD

2) After this course, participants will identify 3 advantages of a bone conduction system relative to other treatment options.

3) After this course, participants will describe the treatment pathway with Baha 5 technology for their SSD patients.

About the Instructor:

 Patrick Hurley

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Baha Systems and Processors

Patrick joined Cochlear in July 2016.  He came from Baxter Healthcare where he was senior product manager for dialysis devices.  Prior to that he was a Senior Consultant for a life sciences firm involved in developing marketing strategies to help life science companies with prioritizations and premarket activities.  Patrick holds a PhD in neuroscience from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Register and watch the recorded course here!

REFERENCES

1. Weaver, J. Single-sided deafness: Causes, and solutions, take many forms. Hearing Journal. 2015; (3): 20-24 [internet]http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/ Fulltext/2015/03000/Single_Sided_Deafness___Causes,_and_Solutions,.1.aspx

2. Oyler A, Untreated hearing loss in adults—A growing national epidemic [Internet]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association 2012 Jan. http://www.asha.org/ Articles/Untreated-Hearing-Loss-in-Adults/.

3. Wie OB, Pripp AH, Tvete O. Unilateral deafness in adults: effects on communication and social interation. Ann Otol Phinol Laryngol. 2010;119: 772-781.4

4. Cochlear Baha: Patient Research [Data on file] 2017 June.

* Findings from Market Research Firm, 2/2017-3/2017. Conducted interviews among 29 U.S.-based ENTs and Audiologists who have conducted or fitted more than two bone conduction implants over the past year. Each interviewee brought up to five patient files. Results are based on experience and opinions of the 29 interviewees as well as the combined 135 patient files.

©Cochlear Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Hear now. And always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited or Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB.