Effects of an evidence-based model for cochlear implant aftercare delivery on clinical efficiency and patient outcomes.

Objectives: To assess an evidence-based model (EBM) approach to cochlear implant (CI) aftercare that includes a modified, reduced treatment schedule for newly-implanted adult CI recipients consisting of four appointments (initial activation, 1-, 3- and 6- months postactivation) in the first year post-surgery.

Method: This prospective multicenter proof-of-concept study was conducted across three clinics in the United States by five experienced CI clinicians. Seventeen newly-implanted adult patients with postlingual hearing loss enrolled in the study.

Dizziness, Falls, and Hearing Loss in Adults Living With Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of reported dizziness/imbalance, frequency of falls, and hearing loss in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and determine the relationship of these self-reported problems both during and in the absence of an SCD crisis. Also, the impact of educational level and health insurance on seeking treatment services, as well as the relationship of falls to stroke, legal blindness, and other orthopedic problems, was assessed. Interrupted blood flow to shared vestibular and auditory arteries supports the notion of increased likelihood of balance deficits and increased falls in this population.