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