Evaluating the Cochlear Implant Competence of Caregivers, Educators, and Speech-Language Service Providers With the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review

The aim of this study was to adapt the Cochlear Implant Skills Review to assess the real-time demonstration of skills and device knowledge of the adults who care for their child's, client's, or student's cochlear implant (CI). This study also sought to assess inter- and intrarater reliability of the newly adapted Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review (Ped-CISR) and provide evidence for its construct validity by...

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists managing pediatric cochlear implant recipients should consider using the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review as a structured tool to identify knowledge and skill gaps in caregivers, educators, and SLPs — though further validation work in larger and more diverse samples is warranted before routine adoption.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Gaps in cochlear implant device knowledge among caregivers and school-based professionals can undermine outcomes in pediatric CI users, and a validated assessment tool could systematically address this.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Adapted the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review for real-time assessment of device knowledge and skill.
02Evaluated caregivers, educators, and speech-language service providers — not just the CI users themselves.
03Highlights the importance of CI-related competence in the child's wider support network.
04Published in the American Journal of Audiology.
05Findings could inform continuing education and training programs for school and home CI support.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

The Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review can evaluate real-time cochlear implant device knowledge and skill in caregivers, educators, and speech-language service providers.

studypartially supported

Caregivers, educators, and SLPs demonstrate variable cochlear implant competence that warrants structured assessment.

studyunclear

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42223337
DOI: 10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00255.
Journal: American Journal of Audiology
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 4
Population: Caregivers, educators, and speech-language service providers supporting pediatric cochlear implant users
Intervention: Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review assessment tool

Primary outcomes

Cochlear implant device knowledge and skill demonstration by caregivers, educators, and SLPs

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