The Audiologist Informer

CMS proposes to broaden Medicare coverage for cochlear implantation from ≤40% correct to ≤60% correct in the best-aided listening condition on tape-recorded tests of open-set sentence recognition. The proposal now goes into a 30-day public comment period.

In this episode, David Akbari, AuD, of Intricon Corporation shares the research methods and outcomes of Intricon’s self-fitting amplification technology called Sentibo—which recently made news for "outperforming" professional fittings in a clinical trial. In particular, Dr. Akbari explains the nuances of how the Sentibo device uses a proprietary algorithm that is not based on traditional hearing prescriptive models, and yet is said to provide optimized audibility and sound quality to the end user.

The goal of this Dutch study was to explore the impact of further expanding unilateral CI criteria in those with severe hearing loss (HL) (61–80 dBHL) in terms of number of CI recipients, costs, quality of number of CI recipients, costs, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Findings suggest that expanding eligibility for CI to persons with severe HL could be a cost-effective use of resources. Clearly, however, it would require a significant increase in diagnostic, operative, and rehabilitative capacity.

“I want kids to look at another kid with CIs and say, ‘Oh, that kid’s just like Lucas or Niki from Rally Caps,’” says Jodi Michelle Cutler, the producer of the upcoming film. “I want our kids to not have to explain. I want them to be seen and understood without always having to explain.”