Racial Disparities in Adult Cochlear Implantation

Abstract

Objective: To compare rates of cochlear implant referral and cochlear implantation across different races and to compare audiometric profiles of these patients.

Study design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academic tertiary care institution.

Methods: Demographic and audiometric data were collected for patients who underwent cochlear implant evaluation or cochlear implantation from 2010 to 2020.

Results: A total of 504 patients underwent cochlear implant evaluation; 388 met cochlear implant candidacy criteria, and 258 underwent implantation. Of the patients referred for cochlear implant evaluation, 68.5% were White, 18.5% were Black, and 12.3% were Asian, while the institution's primary service area is 46.9% White, 42.3% Black, and 7.7% Asian (P < .001). Black patients referred for cochlear implant evaluation had significantly worse hearing (mean pure-tone average [PTA] 84.5 dB, 26.1% word recognition) than White patients (mean PTA 78.2 dB, P = .005; 35.7% word recognition, P = .015) and Asians patients (mean PTA 77.9 dB, P = .04; 36.5% word recognition, P = .04). Black patients who underwent cochlear implant evaluation also had significantly worse AzBio scores than White patients: 24.5% versus 36.7% (P = .003). There was no significant difference in cochlear implantation rates between Black and White candidates (P = .06).

Conclusion: Black patients undergo cochlear implant evaluation and cochlear implantation at rates disproportionately lower than expected based on local demographics. In addition, Black patients have significantly worse hearing at the time of cochlear implant referral than White and Asian patients. Identifying and increasing awareness of these disparities are essential steps to improving cochlear implant access for potentially disadvantaged populations.

Keywords: cochlear implant; cochlear implantation; health disparities; hearing loss; hearing rehabilitation; sensorineural.