OBJECTIVES: Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access and outcomes are well documented, yet their influence on cochlear implant (CI) performance remains underexplored. This study evaluated whether race or ethnicity is associated with post-implant speech recognition outcomes.
Clinicians should be alert to racial and ethnic disparities that may affect cochlear implant candidacy evaluation, referral timing, and post-implant outcomes, and should audit their own patient pathways for inequity; full outcome data are needed before specific protocol changes can be recommended.
Persistent racial and ethnic disparities in cochlear implant outcomes represent a systemic equity issue that the audiology field must address to ensure equitable hearing healthcare for all populations.
- 01Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access appear to influence cochlear implant outcomes.
- 02Study published in American Journal of Otolaryngology.
- 03Findings highlight systemic inequities in CI candidacy and follow-up care.
- 04Results could prompt equity-focused audiology program reform.
- 05Adds to a growing body of health-disparities literature in audiology.
Race and ethnicity influence cochlear implant performance outcomes.
studypartially supportedRacial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access affect cochlear implant candidacy and follow-up.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42372543
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104874.
- Journal
- American Journal of Otolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Cochlear implant recipients across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds
- Intervention
- Analysis of race and ethnicity as factors in cochlear implant care pathways
- Comparator
- Comparison across racial/ethnic groups
Primary outcomes
Cochlear implant performance outcomes stratified by race and ethnicity; Healthcare access disparities by race and ethnicity