Cochlear implants (CIs) offer substantial benefits to individuals with severe-profound hearing loss who receive limited improvement from traditional amplification. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), access to specialized CI services is challenged by geographic disparities, limited workforce capacity, and inconsistent training opportunities....
VA audiologists with limited cochlear implant experience may improve clinical competency through structured mentorship programs; clinics serving veterans should consider similar models to close the CI service gap.
Veterans are disproportionately affected by severe hearing loss, and structured mentorship can scale cochlear implant expertise within the VA system where specialist access is uneven.
- 01Mentorship program pairs experienced cochlear implant specialists with VA audiologists to build CI competency.
- 02Targets veterans with severe-to-profound hearing loss, a population with high unmet need.
- 03Published in the American Journal of Audiology, a peer-reviewed clinical journal.
- 04Program design may serve as a replicable model for other under-resourced audiology settings.
- 05Focuses on improving patient outcomes through clinician skill development rather than new technology.
A cochlear implant mentorship program for VA audiologists improves clinical competency in cochlear implant management.
studypartially supportedThe mentorship program is associated with improved outcomes for veterans with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42418229
- DOI
- 10.1044/2026_AJA-25-00310.
- Journal
- American Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- VA audiologists and veterans with severe-to-profound hearing loss
- Intervention
- Cochlear implant mentorship program for VA audiologists
Primary outcomes
Audiologist clinical competency in cochlear implant management; Veteran patient outcomes following cochlear implantation