Remote cochlear implant candidacy assessment, activation and speech perception testing in northern communities: a quality improvement case study

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement (QI) case study conducted at a large adult CI centre aimed to improve access to cochlear implant (CI) care for northern communities. By adapting existing infrastructure using tele-audiology in novel ways, we were able to complete CI candidacy assessments, CI activations and CI speech perception testing remotely.

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Audiologists serving remote or underserved populations should consider telehealth protocols for CI candidacy assessment, activation, and speech perception testing as a feasible access-expanding alternative to in-person care, though this is a single quality-improvement case study requiring broader validation.

Remote CI service delivery addresses a critical equity gap for geographically isolated patients, and quality improvement evidence — even at the case-study level — can inform telehealth protocol development across underserved audiology settings.

1. 01Quality improvement case study evaluating fully remote cochlear implant candidacy, activation, and speech testing in northern Canada.
2. 02Remote delivery via telehealth was found to be feasible for all three phases of CI care.
3. 03Addresses geographic barriers that prevent many patients from accessing cochlear implant services.
4. 04Case study methodology limits generalizability; larger controlled studies are needed.
5. 05Findings are relevant to clinic owners and health systems designing telehealth CI pathways.

PMID

42705839

DOI

10.1080/14670100.2026.2726028.

Journal

Cochlear Implants International

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients in remote northern communities requiring cochlear implant services

Intervention

Remote (telehealth) cochlear implant candidacy assessment, activation, and speech perception testing