Conference Grant (R-13) Covering Three Years of Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Symposia to be held in 2021, 2022 and 2023

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Project Summary/Abstract This application seeks partial funding for three years of cochlear implant (CI) clinical research conferences to be convened by the American Cochlear Implant Alliance in April 2021 (Dallas), May 2022 (Washington, DC) and Spring 2023 West Coast TBD. The CI meetings provide a unique opportunity for CI clinicians from across the continuum of care (i.e., ENTs, audiologists, speech pathologists, psychologists), educators, and scientists to learn together. Virtual participation will be offered. In the first year of the grant, we will convene CI2021 Cochlear Implantation: It Takes a Village. The program for CI2021 will focus on clinical research relative to specific aspects of the cochlear implant process for children and adults including: team approach to managing the range of CI patients including bilingual patients and families, special needs populations and others receiving cochlear implants under expanded indications; role of therapy, education and family engagement for pediatric and adult patients; hearing preservation; telehealth; cognition and effect on outcomes; vestibular assessment; advances in CI and surgical techniques; and alternative methods of managing hearing loss. Increasingly the need for a team that includes individuals who are not “traditional” CI clinicians is recognized in light of the expanded indications that are driving growth in individuals now considered good CI candidates. Students may apply for waived registration and financial support and may enter a student poster competition with interviews conducted by an interdisciplinary committee. A post-conference afternoon seminar for deaf and hard of hearing adults, parents of children with hearing loss, and other family members will be held to share translational research content for a non-clinician audience. We will explore the best practice models to support an expansion in CI indications and the likely increased volume of patients eligible for care. Our three specific aims for the conference are to: (1) explore comparative outcomes of CI recipients implanted under expanded indications including special needs populations, bilingual patients, and device variables that contribute to performance; (2) evaluate clinical practice models to determine if they are able to effectively support a growing patient population and suggest future changes in clinical practice; (3) determine research needed to better advise patients and address current variability in outcomes among the CI recipient population.