338 - The Evolution of Cochlear Implants and the Cochlear Care Consensus

How has cochlear implant care evolved—and are clinical practices keeping pace with today’s technology?Brian Taylor speaks with Dr. Terry Zwolan, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Cochlear Americas, about the evolution of cochlear implants and the newly developed Cochlear™ Care Consensus. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Dr. Zwolan reflects on how cochlear implant technology—and the patients who use it—have changed, and why clinical care models must evolve alongside these advancements.The conversation explores how early cochlear implant care was shaped by clinical trial protocols, often requiring frequent and lengthy appointments, and contrasts that with today’s more efficient technology and patient expectations. Dr. Zwolan also discusses how modern tools, remote care capabilities, and changing clinical workflows are influencing how clinicians deliver care.A central focus is the Cochlear Care Consensus—a set of 57 expert-driven recommendations designed to provide more detailed, practical guidance for clinicians. The consensus blends evidence-based research with real-world clinical expertise, offering insight into areas such as programming, patient management, evaluation, and the use of emerging tools like Remote Check. Learn more about the Cochlear Care Consensus here:https://pronews.cochlear.com/cochlear-care-consensus-recommendations/ Cochlear Care Consensus: Expert Guided Care Recommendations (note: to access recording, you will need to create an account) Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing Visit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/