In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, Bob Hendry and new co-host Ginger Grant are joined by Dr. Lisa Park, Dr. Jourdan Holder and Dr. Andrea Warner-Czyz to discuss CI 360, a pediatric cochlear implant referral guideline designed to support more consistent, confident identification of children who may benefit from a cochlear implant evaluation. The conversation explores why timely referrals matter, how clinicians can use objective referral triggers in practice and ways to counsel families using an audibility-focused, hope-filled approach.
For more information and resources, check out the links below:
Pediatric CI 3-60 Guideline: When to Refer Children for a Cochlear Implant
Candidacy Evaluation
CI:Path Website
Jourdan Holder, AuD, PhD, is the Senior Director of Audiology and Research at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In this role, she provides clinical and research leadership across audiology services with a focus on advancing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for children and adults with hearing loss. Prior to joining Hearts for Hearing, Dr. Holder served as Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she provided cochlear implant care, taught graduate-level audiology courses, and led a comprehensive clinical and research program. Dr. Holder’s research focuses on improving speech perception and quality-of-life outcomes for cochlear implant recipients with particular attention to expanding access to cochlear implant technology for non-traditional pediatric candidates. Her work has contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has been presented at national and international scientific meetings. She is also a faculty member for the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training Advanced Audiology Course and serves as a Section Editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.
Dr. Lisa Park is an Associate Professor and Division Chief of the Children's Cochlear Implant Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing from Washington University in St. Louis and a Doctorate in Audiology from The University of Florida. Her clinical research focuses on expanding cochlear implant indications for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and optimizing outcomes for non-traditional pediatric cochlear implant recipients.
Dr. Andrea Warner-Czyz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. Her research centers on how young children who are deaf or hard of hearing using cochlear implants develop, from speech and language to perception to quality of life. She focuses on early markers of performance and employs a multifactorial approach incorporating both audiological and non-audiological factors to identify children at risk for poorer outcomes in communication or quality of life. Additionally, she has published several papers outlining criteria for referral for cochlear implant candidacy evaluation to support improved outcomes in children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com
The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.
This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.
