Identifying Cochlear Implant Candidates for the Comprehensive Otolaryngologist

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Location: 502A

Moderator(s)

JY

Jeffrey Wayne Yu, MD

Dr.
Kaiser Permanente Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States

Panelist(s)

KK

Kristin L. Kozlowski, AuD

Cochlear Implant Audiologist
Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
VV

Varun V. Varadarajan, MD

Neurotologist
Sacramento Ear, Nose and Throat
Sacramento, California, United States
MH

Michael Harris, MD

Neurotologist
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States

This panel will provide guidelines and examples to help the comprehensive otolaryngologist identify cochlear implant candidates and when to refer to a cochlear implant center. Comprehensive otolaryngologist play a pivotal role in the continuity of care in patient's with hearing loss.

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate patient factors and features from basic audiograms that can be used by a comprehensive otolaryngologist to identify potential CI candidates.
Discuss expanded CI candidacy and the differences between Federal Drug Administration (FDA) candidacy and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).
Provide an overview of pertinent research on the connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline in the context of CI.