The 2016 AG Bell Research Symposium was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and featured panelists:
There are a lot of reasons, research, and rationale to support the need for bilateral amplification for people with hearing loss. It’s pretty much a “given” at this point in our field, though, sadly, there are still some insurance companies and even hearing healthcare professionals who lag behind the curve. What should you consider if you or your child have just one cochlear implant and are thinking about going bilateral? How do you get a second ear “up to speed” if there’s a significant gap between implant dates? Is it worthwhile to continue using a hearing aid in the other ear after you receive a CI? How can users or bilateral hearing devices get the most out of their two ears?