Cochlear Implants Specialty Certification

Delivery of services to cochlear implant patients requires a specialized set of knowledge and skills. In recognition of this skill set, the American Board of Audiology has created a specialty certification program in Cochlear Implants (CI). This program is the result of meetings held between the ABA Board, audiologists currently working with cochlear implants, and representatives from three implant manufacturers: Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Americas and MED-EL.

In establishing this program, the American Board of Audiology (ABA) conducted a job analysis survey for cochlear implant specialists as part of the Board's continuing effort to offer audiologists specialty certification in this practice setting.

The idea for developing specialty certification arose within the ABA early in 2000 as a method of elevating the status of certification and identifying individuals in areas of specialty practice. Some of the reasons that certification may be valuable to you include:

• Standardizes training and knowledge of CI audiologists; specialty certification identifies the knowledge required to promote better patient outcomes.
• Verifies professional experience to employers and helps identify individuals who are qualified to fulfill a job description related to the cochlear implant population.
• Provides consumers a method of identifying audiologists with expertise in cochlear implants and increases confidence in consumer's view of the audiologist's level of expertise.
• Describes a training plan for individuals interested in specializing in cochlear implants.
• Helps individual audiologists identify themselves as experts; increases professional self-esteem.
• Assists the profession in defining our scope of practice.
• Increases the possibility of an heightened standard of living through appropriate salaries, provides a basis of career advancement, and maintains an adequate number of audiologists working with cochlear implants.

You may download the application here. To date, approximately 60 audiologists all over North America have earned the credential.

Suggested Readings

The references listed below may prove helpful in the review of the subject matter areas included on the CI examination. The listing of these references is intended for use as a study aid only. The ABA does not intend the list to be exhaustive or to imply endorsement of these specific references, nor are the examination questions necessarily taken from these sources.

Cochlear Implants: Objective Measures.  London: Whurr Publishers. Cullington, Helen E. (Editor) (2003)

Cochlear Implants For Kids. Washington, D.C. AG Bell Association for the Deaf. Estabrooks, W. (Editor). (1998)

Ethics of Cochlear Implantation in Young Children. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 114: 748-55. Hodges, A. et. al. (1996)  

Auditory Speech and Language: A Manual for professionals Working with Children Who Have Cochlear Implants or Amplification. McClathchie, A. and Therres, M. Ausplan

Cochlear Implants: Models of the Electrically Stimulated Ear.  New York: Springer-Verlag. Miller J. and Spelman, F. (1990)   

Children with Cochlear Implants in Educational Settings. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group, Inc. Nevins, M.E. and Chute, P. (1996)  

Cochlear Implants: Principals & Practices. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Niparko, J., Kirk, K.I., Mellon, N.K., Robbins, A.M, Tucci, D.C. and Wilson, B. (2000)  

Cochlear Implants. New York: Thieme Publishers. Waltzman, S. and Cohen, N. ( Editors) (2000) 

Any audiologist interested in specialty certification in cochlear implant certification or Board Certification in Audiology should contact the the ABA toll-free at 800-881-5410 or at aba@audiology.org.