CIICA CONVERSATION: ADULTS WITH CI: NOBODY TOLD ME WHAT TO ASK….
Tuesday May 6 2025
Your opportunity to develop a resource for those thinking about CI.
In previous conversations we have explored the issues people wish they had known before CI – and several times the request to develop a guide for adults going for CI for the first assessment. We hope to develop a consensus of opinion into a manageable format! See summaries of previous conversations at https://ciicanet.org/events/list-of-summaries/
The conversation was led by Kris English, Professor of Audiology, Akron, USA, and Michelle Frisbie, who has Bilateral Implants and is Treasurer, HLAA state & local chapters, Wisconsin, USA, and Emma McAuley, CI user and Audiologist from Ireland, together with other users and professionals from across the globe.
21 participants, including 9 CI users, one HA user thinking about CI, 3 parents and a range of professionals joined us from 10 countries for this discussion which explored the questions that people wished they had asked. Kris shared some previous comments:
- “There needs to be a way to empower recipients to know what questions to ask – a resource with what things you need to ask about..”
- “Someone needs to develop a guide for adults going for CI before their first assessment.”
- Relying on internet searches: problematic
- Even when you know what to ask, most websites do not meet readability criteria
(Benaim et al. [2025]. What do people want to know about cochlear implants: A Google analytic study. Laryngoscope, 135, 840-847.)
Michelle shared her questions:
- How to select among CI brands
- Assess potential balance issues
- Complete info re: bilateral implants
- Importance of early, continuous AR
Followed by Emma:
- Post-op sore throat
- Keeping bandage from slipping off while sleeping
- How to meet other CI users
- How Bluetooth supports listening practice
These led to interesting discussions!
