Any otolaryngologist or cochlear implant (CI) patient can tell you that the journey to better hearing begins in earnest after CI activation. When the patient in question is a child, what does that journey look like? In this episode of the BackTable ENT podcast, Dr. Sarah Cordingley, audiologist with Peak ENT (Provo, Utah), joins host Dr. Gopi Shah to discuss aural rehabilitation for pediatric CI patients.

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SYNPOSIS

First, Dr. Cordingley explains how audiologists work alongside otolaryngologists, social workers, and occupational therapists to prepare patients for cochlear implantation. Since younger patients cannot sit for a standard audiogram, she uses auditory milestones, visual reinforcement audiology (VRA) and conditioned play audiometry (CPA) to assess pediatric hearing loss. Then, she explains how audiologists help patients learn to use their implant, underscoring the importance of regular use, streaming, and participation in structured aural rehabilitation programs. The podcast concludes with a discussion of efforts to increase patient access to cochlear implants.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Welcome to the BackTable ENT Podcast

05:05 - Audiologists’ Crucial Role in Cochlear Implant Evaluation

13:59 - Implant Activation & Programming

20:11 - The Importance of Family Support in Pediatric Hearing Loss

26:31 - Uses of Telehealth in Audiology

32:49 - Learning to Use New CI Technologies

41:47 - Equitable Access to Cochlear Implants

45:27 - Audiologists & Otolaryngologists: Partners for CI Success

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RESOURCES

Dr. Cordingley’s Peak ENT Profile:

https://peakent.com/our-healthcare-providers/

Dr. Cordingley’s email:

[email protected]