Samantha Anne
Samantha Anne, MD,MS is a Professor with Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute and serves as the Medical Director of Pediatric Ear and Hearing Disorders. Dr. Anne completed her Bachelor of Science degree, Master of Science degree, and her Doctor of Medicine degree at Wayne State University. Her post-graduate training includes a two-year otolaryngology residency at The State University of New York, followed by completion of residency at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University. She then did a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her research interests are in pediatric hearing loss and quality of life associated with cochlear implantation in children. She has authored more than a 100 papers, published a book on pediatric sensorineural hearing loss, and has presented internationally numerous times on pediatric hearing loss.
Sessions
Unlike children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, those with unilateral hearing loss present a unique challenge. Since these children maintain consistent auditory input through their normal-hearing ear, they may be less motivated to consistently use a cochlear implant. As a result, traditional outcome measures—developed for bilateral hearing loss—may potentially be less applicable in this group.
Cochlear implantation for unilateral hearing loss in children has been shown to have benefits, including improved sound localization, quality of life, and audiological performance. However, critical questions remain. What factors influence device use in this population? What constitutes adequate duration of daily use? How does cochlear implant use compare with alternative interventions like bone-anchored hearing aids or contralateral routing of signal (CROS) systems?
This expert lecture will provide a comprehensive update on the latest literature on cochlear implantaton for pediatric unilateral hearing loss, with a particular focus on candidacy considerations, outcomes, and ongoing challenges in assessing benefit.
Nearly 100 million children worldwide are affected by hearing loss, with congenital unilateral hearing loss diagnosed in up to 1 in 1,000 births in developed countries. Management of this condition varies significantly across the globe, influenced by factors such as resource availability, access to care, and ethical considerations.
Key challenges in managing congenital unilateral hearing loss include determining the appropriate timing and type of intervention, selecting the most suitable devices, and identifying the right candidates. Traditional outcome measures used for bilateral hearing loss may not fully capture the experiences or benefits for the children with unilateral hearing loss and consistent auditory input in one ear. For this population, additional metrics, such as quality of life, listening effort, and fatigue, must be considered.
This international expert panel will explore current global practices in managing congenital unilateral hearing loss and highlight key insights to inform shared decision-making with families.