Determining cochlear implant candidacy in children with residual hearing: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review was to summarize what is known about criteria, assessments, and recommendations for evaluating cochlear implant (CI) candidacy in children with residual hearing. METHODS: Peer-reviewed studies were identified through a systematic search in five electronic databases. Articles were screened and assessed for eligibility. From the eligible studies, data were extracted to summarize and present a narrative synthesis of the findings. RESULTS: A total of seven articles (two reviews and five primary studies) were included in the final analysis. Hearing levels better than the moderately severe to severe range (65-90 dB HL) tend to be supported as audiological candidacy criteria for pediatric CI. Recommendations for candidacy consideration based on audiologic thresholds range from 65 to 80 dB Hl pure-tone average as the lower boundary. Our review did not identify any specific assessment protocols. However, additional decision-making considerations related to borderline hearing loss configurations and assessment tools (the Speech Intelligibility Index and the Pediatric Minimum Speech Test Battery) were identified. Supplementary assessment considerations were also reported. CONCLUSION: There is limited information regarding specific assessment protocols for children with residual hearing. The literature is primarily focused on guidelines related to audiologic criteria, although it is widely recommended that other areas of functioning should also be considered. Most recommendations appear to be based on expert opinion, clinical expertise, and evidence from overall pediatric CI outcomes rather than empirical evidence targeting children with residual hearing. There is an ongoing need for research to further develop protocols and tools that can assist clinicians and families in making cochlear implantation decisions for children with residual hearing.

First line in psychiatric emergency: pre-hospital emergency protocol for mental disorders in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: This article is a report of designing a rapid and effective guide for paramedics who take care of patients in a pre-hospital setting to answer developing demands. METHODS: The relevant literature was reviewed, and the topics were extracted. Then, the extracted items were discussed in an expert panel. Finally, items were discussed in a meeting including emergency technicians and emergency technical assistants to identify implementation problems. RESULTS: Important topics for managing psychiatric patients were categorized at three levels: 1) Patient safety and security issues, 2) Patient status assessment and diagnosis, and 3) Patient management (medical, behavioral management, and referral to a treatment center). DISCUSSION: This protocol can be a solution to improve emergency technician training. Such summarized protocols can be used for rapid review immediately before exposing a patient with an acute psychiatric condition. Due to specific cultural and different access to medicines in Iran, some issues are different.