Recent trends in cochlear implant programming and (re)habilitation

Whilst cochlear implant technology has continued to evolve significantly over the past 40 years, and the candidacy criteria have expanded, guidelines and standards for the programming and rehabilitation with cochlear implants remain globally undefined. This is consistent with other realms of the cochlear implant, such as candidacy. Boisvert et al. (PLoS One 15(5):e0232421, 2020) found that adults who may benefit from cochlear implantation may not meet the restricted or ambiguous criteria found in clinics across the globe. Further, heterogeneity of assessment tools used to identify candidacy and perform ongoing monitoring, contributes to inconsistency in predicting outcomes. The high variability of outcomes in the adult cochlear implant population raises questions when trying to determine contributing factors. Variability and sensitivity in methodologies used for device programming, assessment, and rehabilitation are compounded by the individual characteristics of the cochlear implant recipient. The aim of this chapter is to review recent and current approaches to programming and (re)habilitation in cochlear implants and to identify ways we can catalyse a shift to ensure all recipients not only reach their true potential, but continue to benefit from the advances offered in the cochlear implant space throughout their lifetime.