Cochlear implantation impact on health service utilisation and social outcomes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss can have a negative impact on individuals' health and engagement with social activities. Integrated approaches that tackle barriers and social outcomes could mitigate some of these effects for cochlear implants (CI) users. This review aims to synthesise the evidence of the impact of a CI on adults' health service utilisation and social outcomes. METHODS: Five databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, ERIC, CINAHL and PsychINFO) were searched from 1st January 2000 to 16 January 2023 and May 2023. Articles that reported on health service utilisation or social outcomes post-CI in adults aged ≥ 18 years were included. Health service utilisation includes hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) presentations, general practitioner (GP) visits, CI revision surgery and pharmaceutical use. Social outcomes include education, autonomy, social participation, training, disability, social housing, social welfare benefits, occupation, employment, income level, anxiety, depression, quality of life (QoL), communication and cognition. Searched articles were screened in two stages ̶̶̶ by going through the title and abstract then full text. Information extracted from the included studies was narratively synthesised. RESULTS: There were 44 studies included in this review, with 20 (45.5%) cohort studies, 18 (40.9%) cross-sectional and six (13.6%) qualitative studies. Nine studies (20.5%) reported on health service utilisation and 35 (79.5%) on social outcomes. Five out of nine studies showed benefits of CI in improving adults' health service utilisation including reduced use of prescription medication, reduced number of surgical and audiological visits. Most of the studies 27 (77.1%) revealed improvements for at least one social outcome, such as work or employment 18 (85.7%), social participation 14 (93.3%), autonomy 8 (88.9%), education (all nine studies), perceived hearing disability (five out of six studies) and income (all three studies) post-CI. None of the included studies had a low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified beneficial impacts of CI in improving adults' health service utilisation and social outcomes. Improvement in hearing enhanced social interactions and working lives. There is a need for large scale, well-designed epidemiological studies examining health and social outcomes post-CI.

Communication, academic and social outcomes of childhood cancer survivors with hearing loss: A systematic review.

Many children treated for cancer are at risk of hearing loss. However, little is known about how hearing loss impacts their communication, academic and social outcomes. To examine the impact, this systematic review aimed to synthesise and appraise quantitative and qualitative studies reporting on (i) participants with hearing loss treated with platinum-based chemotherapy or cranial radiotherapy during childhood; and (ii) speech, language, academic performance, or social participation findings. Systematic database searches yielded 23 relevant articles that were analysed using narrative synthesis. Difficulties were reported for some but not all communication, academic and social aspects; however, a quality assessment using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) revealed low to very low certainty in the findings. Future research should aim to increase the quality of the research evidence and explore how multidisciplinary services can provide evidence-based support for childhood cancer survivors with competing hearing, communication, and social difficulties.

Perceived listening ability and hearing loss: Systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss (HL) can affect communication in complex ways. Understanding how adults with HL reflect on and conceptualise the way they listen (metacognition) is required if interventions, and the outcome measures used to evaluate them, are to address barriers to functional communication arising from HL. OBJECTIVES: This study describes how adults with HL experience and report the processes, behaviours, and components of listening, as presented in published studies. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. METHODS: Systematic searches identified English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles reporting the results of qualitative or mixed-methods studies of adults' with HL perceived listening abilities. Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to November 2021. Handsearching reference lists of included studies identified additional studies for inclusion. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist was used to appraise studies' methodological quality. Data from included studies were analysed using thematic meta-synthesis. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of QUALitative (CERQual) approach assessed confidence in the review findings. Two reviewers independently completed all screening and quality appraisal. Thematic meta-synthesis and GRADE CERQual assessment was completed by one reviewer and confirmed by a second reviewer. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. RESULTS: Data from 46 studies were included in the review. Thematic meta-synthesis identified six descriptive themes: 1) perceived listening ability; 2) external modifiers; 3) psychosocial impacts of hearing loss; 4) communication partner perspectives; 5) self-efficacy for listening; and 6) cognitive load. GRADE CERQual ratings for descriptive themes ranged from low to moderate confidence. Descriptive themes were related by analytic themes of liminality and reciprocity. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with HL provide in-depth accounts of components and processes of listening, with studies reporting both cognitive and affective experiences consistent with theoretical models of metacognition. The findings will inform content generation for a hearing-specific patient-reported outcome measure of perceived listening ability in everyday communication.

ARCHS: adult recipients of cochlear implants: health and social long-term outcomes-a state-specific and national population-based retrospective cohort study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: While the majority of adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss and poor speech perception outcomes with hearing aids benefit from receiving a cochlear implant, the long-term health and social benefits for implant recipients are yet to be explored. The objective of the ARCHS research is to provide a better understanding of the health and social factors that play a role in the lives of adults with a cochlear implant up to 10 years after the procedure. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: This research will involve conducting two retrospective cohort studies of adults aged ≥18 years who received a cochlear implant during 2011-2021 using linked administrative data first within New South Wales (NSW) and second Australia-wide. It will examine health service use and compare health and social outcomes for younger (18-64 years) and older (≥65 years) cochlear implant recipients. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was received from the NSW Population Health Services Research Ethics Committee for the NSW cohort study (Reference: 2022/ETH00382/2022.07) and from the Macquarie University ethics committee for the national cohort study (Reference: 520221151437084). Research findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

Listening-Based Communication Ability in Adults With Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review of Existing Measures.

Introduction: Hearing loss in adults has a pervasive impact on health and well-being. Its effects on everyday listening and communication can directly influence participation across multiple spheres of life. These impacts, however, remain poorly assessed within clinical settings. Whilst various tests and questionnaires that measure listening and communication abilities are available, there is a lack of consensus about which measures assess the factors that are most relevant to optimising auditory rehabilitation. This study aimed to map current measures used in published studies to evaluate listening skills needed for oral communication in adults with hearing loss. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using systematic searches in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar to retrieve peer-reviewed articles that used one or more linguistic-based measure necessary to oral communication in adults with hearing loss. The range of measures identified and their frequency where charted in relation to auditory hierarchies, linguistic domains, health status domains, and associated neuropsychological and cognitive domains. Results: 9121 articles were identified and 2579 articles that reported on 6714 discrete measures were included for further analysis. The predominant linguistic-based measure reported was word or sentence identification in quiet (65.9%). In contrast, discourse-based measures were used in 2.7% of the articles included. Of the included studies, 36.6% used a self-reported instrument purporting to measures of listening for communication. Consistent with previous studies, a large number of self-reported measures were identified (n = 139), but 60.4% of these measures were used in only one study and 80.7% were cited five times or fewer. Discussion: Current measures used in published studies to assess listening abilities relevant to oral communication target a narrow set of domains. Concepts of communicative interaction have limited representation in current measurement. The lack of measurement consensus and heterogeneity amongst the assessments limit comparisons across studies. Furthermore, extracted measures rarely consider the broader linguistic, cognitive and interactive elements of communication. Consequently, existing measures may have limited clinical application if assessing the listening-related skills required for communication in daily life, as experienced by adults with hearing loss.

Adults' with hearing loss perceived listening ability in daily communication: protocol for a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding how adults with hearing loss perceive their abilities when listening in daily communication situations is vital to understanding the functional listening challenges associated with hearing loss. The aim of this study is to explore how adults with hearing loss describe their own experiences of the processes, behaviours and components of listening in real-world communication through secondary analysis of published qualitative data. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research studies and qualitative components of mixed-methods studies will be conducted. Studies published in English will be identified through searching Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar databases from inception to November 2021. Handsearching of the included studies' reference lists will be completed. Included articles will be assessed for methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills checklist for qualitative studies. Thematic synthesis will proceed as follows: (1) line-by-line coding to label concepts present in the 'results' or 'findings' section(s) of the included studies; (2) grouping of similar codes into descriptive themes; (3) development of higher level analytic themes to develop a new interpretation of the included studies' findings. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of QUALitative (CerQUAL) research approach will be used to establish the degree of confidence that may be placed in synthesis findings and results will be reported alongside the synthesis. Two reviewers will independently undertake screening for eligibility, data extraction and quality appraisal, analysis and GRADE-CERQual assessments. Discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As secondary data analysis of the published literature, ethical approval is not required. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and other research and clinical meetings. This protocol is registered with PROSPERO prospective database of systematic review. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020213389.

Perspectives on Support Material for Referrals to Cochlear Implantation Teams.

PURPOSE: This study used a collaborative approach to explore the needs, barriers, and facilitators to developing cochlear implant referral information material that would be valuable for hard of hearing adults and referring audiologists. METHOD: During the development of a prototype referral aid to be used within the Australian context, a multistage qualitative study was conducted using a consultative process, informal and semistructured interviews, as well as online surveys. A deductive directed content analysis approach was applied to assess respondents' perspectives. A total of 106 participants (37 hard of hearing adults and 69 audiologists) were involved across the multiple phases of this study. RESULTS: Referral practices for the evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy in Australia are highly inconsistent, supporting the need to streamline referral information. The following facilitators were identified to support the development of referral material: appropriate content, perceived patient benefit, and objectivity. Areas for improvement related to the broadness of the content, impact on professional identity, and accessibility. CONCLUSIONS: Practical insight from patients and referrers can inform the development of patient-facing material related to cochlear implant referrals. Streamlining information used in educational material could alleviate confusion inherent to varied health literacy levels and support patients in making informed decisions related to pursuing, or not, cochlear implantation candidacy evaluation services.

Changes in US hearing aid regulations: possible benefits and risks to Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing aids are costly for many Australians with hearing loss who are not eligible for public funding, and are not widely used. The purpose of this article is to describe a recent policy shift from the United States (US) that might improve access to hearing devices and services in Australia. Type of program or service: In 2017, the US legislated the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017, directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop regulations for over-the-counter sale of hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. FINDINGS: Changes in the development of hearing devices and changes to service delivery were well underway in the US prior to anticipated release of new FDA regulations, with new technology entrants in the 'hearables' market. For Australians with hearing loss not eligible for public funding, the current hearing health system is expensive and device-centred. If Australia follows suit with regulatory changes for a class of over-the-counter hearing aids, consumers are likely to benefit from access to safe and affordable devices. Additional policies to support access to hearing services are also likely to be needed. LESSONS LEARNT: The hearing health system in Australia will undergo tremendous change in the coming years because of the introduction of over-the-counter hearing aids in the US. For Australians to benefit, changes to regulations of devices, as well as hearing services and device provision, will be required.

Effectiveness of Computer-Based Auditory Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Randomized Crossover Study.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a computer-based speech-in-noise auditory training (AT) program would lead to short- and long-term changes in trained and untrained measures of listening, cognition, and quality of life. A secondary aim was to assess whether directly training the underlying cognitive abilities required for speech perception in noise, using a computer-based visual training (VT) program without the auditory component, would elicit comparable outcomes as the AT program. A randomized crossover study with repeated measures was conducted with 26 adult cochlear implant users. Participants completed either 6 weeks of speech perception in noise training followed by 6 weeks of masked text recognition training, or vice versa. Outcome measures were administered twice before each training program, as well as twice after the completion of each program. The test battery was designed to evaluate whether training led to improvements in listening abilities, cognitive abilities, or quality of life. Mixed-effects models were conducted to analyze whether changes occurred on the trained tasks and on untrained outcome measures after training. Statistically significant improvements were shown for verbal recognition performance during both training programs, in particular for consonants in words, and during the first 2 weeks of training. This on-task learning, however, did not lead to clear improvements in outcomes measured beyond the training programs. This suggests that experienced cochlear implant users may not show transfer of on-task learning to untrained tasks after computer-based auditory and visual training programs such as the ones used in this study.

Rasch Analysis of the Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant.

OBJECTIVES: Listening effort may be defined as the attentional and cognitive resources needed to understand an auditory message, modulated by motivation. Despite the use of hearing devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants (CIs), the requirement for high listening effort remains a challenge for individuals with hearing loss. The Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant (LEQ-CI) is a hearing-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), which has been designed for use in the CI candidacy and rehabilitation process to assess perceived listening effort in everyday life in adults with severe-profound hearing loss. The LEQ-CI has been developed in line with international consensus-based standards for best practice in PROM construction. The aim of this study was to improve the measurement precision of the LEQ-CI and to assess its psychometric measurement properties. DESIGN: A field test was undertaken with 330 CI patients from five National Health Service auditory implant centers in the United Kingdom. Participants were adults (≥18 years of age), had a severe-profound hearing loss, and met the UK candidacy criteria for cochlear implantation specified by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Participants completed and returned an anonymized 29-item (each with a 5- or 7-point response option), draft version of the LEQ-CI (LEQ-CI29) and a demographic questionnaire. Rasch analysis was undertaken using Winsteps software and the partial credit model to assess rating scale function and item fit. Results informed refinements to produce a 21-item version (LEQ-CI21), which underwent a further Rasch analysis. RESULTS: The sample was predominantly female: 60.3% (n = 191). Median age of participants was 66 (range 21 to 89) years, with 7.3% (n = 24) of respondents being CI candidates and 92.7% (n = 306) being CI recipients. Mean duration of implantation was 3.8 (SD = 4.8) years. Initial Rasch analysis of the LEQ-CI29 revealed poor rating scale functioning. Collapsing the 5- and 7-point rating scales to 3- and 4-point scales and removing eight items produced a 21-item PROM (LEQ-CI21). Rasch analysis of the LEQ-CI21 showed good fit to the Rasch measurement model. No items showed misfit and dimensionality analysis supported the existence of a single Rasch dimension, defined as perceived listening effort in daily life. Person reliability was 0.91 and the person separation index was 3.28, establishing four levels of person ability. The item separation index was 9.69, confirming the item hierarchy. No items showed differential item functioning for gender or age. The item difficulty range was -0.81 to 1.05, the person ability range for nonextreme persons was -3.54 to 2.49, and the mean person ability was -0.31. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the LEQ-CI21 was found to meet the Rasch model criteria for interval-level measurement. The LEQ-CI21 is the first PROM to be developed specifically for the measurement of perceived listening effort and one of the first patient-reported outcome measures for use with CI patients to be developed using Rasch analysis. The LEQ-CI21 has the potential to be used as a research tool and in clinical practice to evaluate perceived listening effort in daily life. Further psychometric evaluation of the LEQ-CI21 is planned.

Is the provision of rehabilitation in adult hearing services warranted? A cost benefit analysis.

PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which there is a basic economic case for the provision of rehabilitation services within a publicly funded, device-centred approach to adult hearing services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five representative cross-sectional surveys of people aged 50 years and over were conducted in Australia between 2013 and 2019 (n = 4663). Respondents were surveyed on self-rated hearing abilities, hearing aid usage and perceived benefits of device usage. A population estimate of non-device usage was derived from these data and the costs and benefits of the existing versus proposed hearing services pathways examined. RESULTS: Among respondents 27% reported that their hearing was fair or poor, and 14% reported hearing aid ownership. 45% of hearing aid owners were regular device users. Approximately 1:4 people (24%) who owned a hearing aid had not used it in the past three months; with an estimated cost of $au87.4 million per annum. The provision of hearing rehabilitation services in addition to or instead of hearing aids could provide clients with a more comprehensive service at an estimated saving of between 62% to 81% of existing program costs. CONCLUSIONS: Cost benefit analysis supports the provision of hearing rehabilitation within a hearing services program, either as an alternative to the existing service, or adjunct to it. Such a service would enhance client outcomes and reduce the level of wastage currently associated with the current device-centred approach.Implications for rehabilitationClients identified as not being immediately ready to progress to hearing aids could benefit from rehabilitation programs while still having access to either assistive listening devices or hearing aids.The proposed approach could result in significant cost savings to publicly funded programs while ensuring better outcomes for service users through the more effective, efficient and ethical use of public monies.

School-aged children with sexual behavior problems: Untangling the relationship between externalizing behavior problems and non-sexual victimization on the variety and severity of sexual behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Sexual behavior problems (SBP) in school-aged children is a social concern that draws increased attention amongst child protection services and practitioners. Past research that highlighted the variety in profiles and in behavioral manifestations of children with SBP emphasizes the importance of a well-informed and sensitive approach for appropriate intervention. However, studies validating the theoretically hypothesized vulnerability of children with SBP remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to further our understanding of the risk factors that influence the variety and severity of SBP. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Eighty-eight child-adult dyads (35.2% girls, Mage = 9.1 years; SD = 2.2 years) referred for SBP by child protection services or public services between 2006 and 2010 participated in the study. Participants completed a series of questionnaires as part of their assessment in a specialized therapeutic center for SBP. METHODS: A theoretical model of risk factors was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Amongst the factors identified, externalizing behavior problems were the most strongly associated with the variety (ß = .50; p < 0.001) and severity of SBP (ß = .40; p < .001). Non-sexual victimization experiences (e.g., exposure to family violence) were also associated with a greater variety (ß = .30; p < .001) and severity of SBP (ß = .36; p < .001), while sexual abuse alone was not. CONCLUSIONS: This study outlines the high co-occurrence of SBP, externalizing behaviors and non-sexual victimization, which should raise concern for the assessment of the children and to further adapt treatment strategies and goals.

Cochlear implantation outcomes in adults: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide a descriptive analysis of recent evidence available in the literature in relation to the efficacy of unilateral cochlear implantation in adults, the general findings of these studies, and the populations to which these findings apply. It also aimed to appraise the individual success rate and the magnitude of benefit following implantation. DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted to identify English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000 and 2018 assessing the outcomes of cochlear implantation in adults who received their first cochlear implant from 2000 onwards. To be included, studies had to report speech perception or self-reported measures of listening or quality of life at least three months after implantation. Systematic searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar. A two-stage screening approach was used, with seven reviewers independently screening titles and abstracts against inclusion criteria and three from this group further reviewing full-texts. A data charting form was developed and trialled, with 10% of the study data extracted in duplicate to compare results and further refine the form. Data relevant for efficacy analyses were extracted from studies with sample sizes of at least 10 participants. RESULTS: A total of 4182 abstracts were screened against inclusion criteria, and of these, 603 full-texts were further screened. After exclusion of non-eligible articles, 201 articles were included in the first part of this scoping review. The majority of these articles were case series or comparative studies without a concurrent group, and had small sample sizes. Data synthesis conducted with the 102 articles with more than 10 participants highlighted that the average word perception ability improved from 8.2% to 53.9% after implantation. Self-reported benefit improved by 21.5 percentage points. At the individual level, 82.0% of adults with postlingual hearing loss and 53.4% of adults with prelingual hearing loss improved their speech perception ability by 15 percentage points or more. A small proportion had poorer ability after implantation or had stopped using the cochlear implant. CONCLUSIONS: Despite broad inconsistencies in measurement, research design, and reporting across articles, it is evident that cochlear implantation is beneficial to the majority of adults of any age who have limited aided speech perception abilities. While many adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss may also have poor speech perception abilities with hearing aids, the validity of using hearing loss severity as a criterion for cochlear implantation has not been demonstrated. Clinical and research recommendations derived from this review are provided.

Adults' cochlear implant journeys through care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Cochlear implants (CIs) can provide a sound sensation for those with severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), benefitting speech understanding and quality of life. Nevertheless, rates of implantation remain low, and limited research investigates journeys from traditional hearing aids to implantable devices. METHOD: Fifty-five adults (≥ 50 years), hearing aid users and/or CI users, General Practitioners, and Australian and United Kingdom audiologists took part in a multi-methods study. Focus groups, interviews, and surveys were thematically analysed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-three data-capture events disclosed 2 themes: 1) "The burden of hearing loss and the impact of Cochlear Implants", and 2) "Professional Support and Practice, and HCPs Roles and Responsibilities". CONCLUSIONS: Care experience can include convoluted, complex journeys towards cochlear implantation. The significant impact of this, as hearing loss progresses, motivates people to consider implants, but they and healthcare professionals need clear supported with defined referral pathways, and less system complexity.

Barriers and Facilitators to Cochlear Implant Uptake in Australia and the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES: Hearing loss (HL) affects a significant proportion of adults aged >50 years by impairing communication and social connectedness and, due to its high prevalence, is a growing global concern. Cochlear implants (CIs) are effective devices for many people with severe or greater sensorineural HL who experience limited benefits from hearing aids. Despite this, uptake rates globally are low among adults. This multimethod, multicountry qualitative study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators to CI uptake among adults aged ≥50 years. DESIGN: Adult CI and hearing aid users with postlingual severe or greater sensorineural HL, general practitioners, and audiologists were recruited in Australia using purposive sampling, and a comparative sample of audiologists was recruited in England and Wales in the United Kingdom. Participants were interviewed individually, or in a focus group, completed a demographic questionnaire and a qualitative survey. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 143 data capture events were collected from 55 participants. The main barriers to CI uptake related to patients' concerns about surgery and loss of residual hearing. Limited knowledge of CIs, eligibility criteria, and referral processes acted as barriers to CIs assessment referrals by healthcare professionals. Facilitators for CI uptake included patients' desire for improved communication and social engagement, and increased healthcare professional knowledge and awareness of CIs. CONCLUSIONS: There are numerous complex barriers and facilitators to CI uptake. Knowledge of these can inform the development of targeted strategies to increase CI referral and surgery for potential beneficiaries.

Study protocol for the validation of a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of listening effort in cochlear implantation: the Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant (LEQ-CI).

INTRODUCTION: Listening effort may be defined as the cognitive resources needed to understand an auditory message. A sustained requirement for listening effort is known to have a negative impact on individuals' sense of social connectedness, well-being and quality of life. A number of hearing-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) exist currently; however, none adequately assess listening effort as it is experienced in the listening situations of everyday life. The Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant (LEQ-CI) is a new, hearing-specific PROM designed to assess perceived listening effort as experienced by adult CI patients. It is the aim of this study to conduct the first psychometric evaluation of the LEQ-CI's measurement properties. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a phased, prospective, multi-site validation study in a UK population of adults with severe-profound sensorineural hearing loss who meet local candidacy criteria for CI. In phase 1, 250 CI patients from four National Health Service CI centres will self-complete a paper version of the LEQ-CI. Factor analysis will establish unidimensionality and Rasch analysis will evaluate item fit, differential item functioning, response scale ordering, targeting of persons and items, and reliability. Classical test theory methods will assess acceptability/data completeness, scaling assumptions, targeting and internal consistency reliability. Phase 1 results will inform refinements to the LEQ-CI. In phase 2, a new sample of adult CI patients (n=100) will self-complete the refined LEQ-CI, the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale, the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire and the Fatigue Assessment Scale to assess construct validity. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board/Swansea University Joint Study Review Committee and the Newcastle and North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee, Ref: 18/NE/0320. Dissemination will be in high-quality journals, conference presentations and SEH's doctoral dissertation.

Auditory Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Survey and Cost Analysis Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to describe audiologists' practices toward auditory training (AT) for adult cochlear implant (CI) users with a postlingual hearing loss; and (b) to assess the cost of different AT methods for clients and service providers in comparison with no AT delivery. DESIGN: A survey was distributed to approximately 230 Australian CI audiologists to investigate the range, magnitude, and rationale of AT practices adopted as part of rehabilitation services with adult CI users. The cost of these different AT practices was then estimated from the perspectives of both clients and service providers, and compared against no AT delivery. RESULTS: Seventy-eight audiologists responded to at least one section of the survey (16% to 33% response rate), of which 85.5% reported that they viewed AT as a necessary component of rehabilitation. Home-based and face-to-face were the methods most frequently adopted to deliver AT. Methods used during training, such as stimuli type, feedback, and encouragement for training adherence, varied across respondents. The cost analysis indicated that home-based training resulted in the lowest program costs, whereas face-to-face AT (when delivered independently from routine appointments) was the method with highest cost for clients and service providers. CONCLUSIONS: The type of AT, recommended frequency of sessions, and overall duration of programs varied widely across respondents. Costs incurred by clients depended mainly on whether the AT was home-based or clinician-led (i.e., face-to-face, group-based), program fees, and travel arrangements made by clients, as well as clinicians' wages and the method chosen to deliver AT.

Orthographic Learning in Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between orthographic learning and language, reading, and cognitive skills in 9-year-old children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and to compare their performance to age-matched typically hearing (TH) controls. Method Eighteen children diagnosed with moderate-to-profound hearing loss who use hearing aids and/or cochlear implants participated. Their performance was compared with 35 age-matched controls with typical hearing. Orthographic learning was evaluated using a spelling task and a recognition task. The children were assessed on measures of reading ability, language, working memory, and paired-associate learning. Results On average, the DHH group performed more poorly than the TH controls on the spelling measure of orthographic learning, but not on the recognition measure. For both groups of children, there were significant correlations between orthographic learning and phonological decoding and between visual-verbal paired-associate learning and orthographic learning. Conclusions Although the children who are DHH had lower scores in the spelling test of orthographic learning than their TH peers, measures of their reading ability revealed that they acquired orthographic representations successfully. The results are consistent with the self-teaching hypothesis in suggesting that phonological decoding is important for orthographic learning.