Closing the gap in cochlear implant access for African-Americans: a story of outreach and collaboration by our cochlear implant program.

Purpose of review: Minorities often lag behind in hearing loss evaluation and treatment. Our cochlear implant program aimed to identify the socioeconomic and cultural barriers that prevented our African-American cochlear implant candidates from seeking help for their hearing loss, specifically cochlear implant surgery. Recent findings: Our pilot study surveyed 11 African-Americans with cochlear implants and identified obstacles that included patient-physician mistrust, social stigma, financial cost, and lack of education about the devices and procedures. Our experienced cochlear implant team then addressed these issues in its weekly meetings to review cases and potential cochlear implant candidates, and we partnered with community organizations to improve awareness about cochlear implants among healthcare professionals and the public. Summary: During our cochlear implant team's community outreach to African-Americans with hearing loss, we initiated several actions to address the various disparities in access to care and use of services: development of patient education, patient-run support group, tracking of clinical outcomes, and opportunities for involvement in health policy making for cochlear implants. Cochlear implant teams should deepen their involvement with African-Americans and other minorities with hearing loss to better support and ultimately improve cochlear implant access, performance, and function. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Cochlear implantation in children under 12 months of age.

Purpose of review: Children with congenital hearing loss are being identified earlier, leading to earlier intervention. Current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria states a child must be 12 months or older for cochlear implantation. The purpose of this article is to review recent publications regarding the benefits of implanting infants under 12 months of age. Topics include: safety and efficacy of surgery, speech and language acquisition outcomes, audiologic components, and limitations. Recent findings: Since the early 1990s, the candidacy criteria evolved drastically. However, the FDA criteria for cochlear implantation in children has remained at 12 months of age or older since 2000. Recent research indicates implanting below 12 months of age a safe and effective procedure. Speech and language outcomes showed better speech and language advantages. In addition, infants implanted earlier showed normal auditory skills as early as 3 months post cochlear implant activation. This article will also address recent findings on the limitations of earlier implantation. Summary: Recent research demonstrates positive outcomes in children implanted under 12 months of age. Developing research on earlier implantation could lead to a change in the current FDA criteria allowing infants to reach their speech and hearing potential faster. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2uxmOi8

Closing the gap in cochlear implant access for African-Americans: a story of outreach and collaboration by our cochlear implant program.

Purpose of review: Minorities often lag behind in hearing loss evaluation and treatment. Our cochlear implant program aimed to identify the socioeconomic and cultural barriers that prevented our African-American cochlear implant candidates from seeking help for their hearing loss, specifically cochlear implant surgery. Recent findings: Our pilot study surveyed 11 African-Americans with cochlear implants and identified obstacles that included patient-physician mistrust, social stigma, financial cost, and lack of education about the devices and procedures. Our experienced cochlear implant team then addressed these issues in its weekly meetings to review cases and potential cochlear implant candidates, and we partnered with community organizations to improve awareness about cochlear implants among healthcare professionals and the public. Summary: During our cochlear implant team's community outreach to African-Americans with hearing loss, we initiated several actions to address the various disparities in access to care and use of services: development of patient education, patient-run support group, tracking of clinical outcomes, and opportunities for involvement in health policy making for cochlear implants. Cochlear implant teams should deepen their involvement with African-Americans and other minorities with hearing loss to better support and ultimately improve cochlear implant access, performance, and function. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2u8Jy6R

Cochlear implantation in children under 12 months of age.

Purpose of review: Children with congenital hearing loss are being identified earlier, leading to earlier intervention. Current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria states a child must be 12 months or older for cochlear implantation. The purpose of this article is to review recent publications regarding the benefits of implanting infants under 12 months of age. Topics include: safety and efficacy of surgery, speech and language acquisition outcomes, audiologic components, and limitations. Recent findings: Since the early 1990s, the candidacy criteria evolved drastically. However, the FDA criteria for cochlear implantation in children has remained at 12 months of age or older since 2000. Recent research indicates implanting below 12 months of age a safe and effective procedure. Speech and language outcomes showed better speech and language advantages. In addition, infants implanted earlier showed normal auditory skills as early as 3 months post cochlear implant activation. This article will also address recent findings on the limitations of earlier implantation. Summary: Recent research demonstrates positive outcomes in children implanted under 12 months of age. Developing research on earlier implantation could lead to a change in the current FDA criteria allowing infants to reach their speech and hearing potential faster. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2uxmOi8

Production of a Mouse Monoclonal Antibody Against Mortalin by Whole Cell Immunization

Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy , Vol. 0, No. 0.


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Outpatient dermatology consultation impacts the diagnosis and management of pediatric oncology patients: A retrospective study

The impact of dermatology consultation on the care of children with oncologic conditions is unknown.

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Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and risk of melanoma: A meta-analysis

The association between phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors and melanoma risk is controversial.

http://ift.tt/2uB52tC