Academy Endorses ACI Alliance Guidelines for Clinical Assessment and Management of Cochlear Implantation in Adults with SSD

The American Academy of Audiology, upon detailed appraisal of the recommendations and supporting evidence, has endorsed the American Cochlear Implant Alliance Task Force Guidelines for Clinical Assessment and Management of Adult Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness (published in the November/December 2022 issue of Ear and Hearing).

The Academy’s endorsement entails a formal review by the Guidelines and Strategic Documents Committee to determine appropriateness for Academy’s endorsement, review by the expert panel for methodological quality and rigor, and an approval by the Academy Board of Directors. The endorsement process, including information on the procedures related to review for endorsement, types of endorsement, and dissemination, is detailed in the American Academy of Audiology Endorsement of Clinical Practice Documents Developed by External Organizations policy document.

The American Cochlear Implant Alliance guideline reviews the current evidence relevant to the assessment and management of adults with single-sided deafness. A systematic review was conducted on published studies that investigated outcomes of cochlear implant use on measures of speech recognition in quiet and noise, sound source localization, tinnitus perception, and quality of life for this patient population. Findings were combined to provide guidance for the preoperative evaluation and post-activation assessment and management of adults with single-sided deafness.

Acknowledgments

The American Academy of Audiology would like to acknowledge the expert panel convened to review the American Cochlear Implant Alliance Task Force guidelines for endorsement consideration—Jessica Messersmith, PhD, University of South Dakota; Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, Cleveland Clinic; and Monika Tiido, AuD, UT Southwestern Medical Center.  

Related Academy’s Guidelines

American Academy of Audiology Clinical Practice Guideline: Cochlear Implants