B-ENT
Original Article

Quality standards for adult cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss

1.

Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia

2.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia

3.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Lucerne, Switzerland, Lucerne, Switzerland

4.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

B-ENT 2020; 16: 209-216
DOI: 10.5152/B-ENT.2021.20172
Read: 2057 Downloads: 743 Published: 06 April 2021

Objective: To establish a set of quality standards that will help implant centers provide each adult with single-sided deafness (SSD) or asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) with the best possible hearing rehabilitation option and professional care. These standards are the minimum that implant clinics can implement realistically.

Methods: Members of the HEARRING network used the Delphi method approach to discuss and agree on the minimum outcome measures for the evaluation of patients with SSD or AHL. 

Results: These quality standards define SSD and AHL propose team structures and the minimum levels of experience and expertise necessary for their members, describe the resources and facilities that clinics should possess or have access to, and cover each stage of the patient journey, from referral to trials with nonimplanted devices to postoperative follow-up–in the case of cochlear implant provision–and long-term maintenance.

Conclusion: This set of quality standards can help implant centers provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art pre, intra, and postoperative care for adults with SSD or AHL.

Cite this article as: Távora-Vieira D, Rajan G, Van de Heyning P, Mertens G. Quality standards for adult cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss. B-ENT 2020; 16(4): 209-16.

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