Pediatric Single-Sided Deafness: Optimizing Outcomes

Saturday, October 11, 2025

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Location: 245

Disclosure(s):

Jacqueline E. Weinstein, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Michael S. Cohen, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Daniel M. Zeitler, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Samantha Anne, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss afflicts approximately 3-6% of children aged 6-19 years in the United States. Children with severe to profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss or single-sided deafness (SSD), the most severely affected subset of these patients, experience significant difficulties in hearing in noise and sound localization. While the impact of absent binaural hearing on social, cognitive and educational measures has been well established, there is dearth of data and/or consensus-driven guidance for successful management of this population.

This multidisciplinary session will focus on evaluation, management of congenital SSD in the pediatric setting. Discussion will center on diagnostic criteria for congenital SSD, essential aspects of evaluation including imaging recommendations, role of CMV testing, and expanding genetic testing options. As there exists significant heterogeneity in management of these children, our program will seek to highlight appropriate audiologic candidacy for cochlear implantation, predictors of success following implantation, and disparities in access to hearing care in this community.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: • Define single-sided deafness and identify appropriate elements of workup (including radiologic, laboratory, genetic components) for these patients

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: • Demonstrate knowledge of audiologic criteria for cochlear implant candidacy in children >5 years of age with SSD

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: --Analyze prognostic factors with regard to audiologic, speech-language, QOL outcomes in children with SSD following cochlear implantation
--Identify sources of disparities in access to hearing care in children with SSD

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: --Address critical educational gap, diversity of practice in the management of children with SSD; significant new data
--Stimulate inquiry, awareness of this understudied, frequently overlooked population
--Help direct mgmt toward amplification vs cochlear implantation and prevent harm

Comprehensive Otolaryngology Track Statement :

Moderator(s)

Jacqueline E. Weinstein, MD

Fellow
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Panelist(s)

Michael S. Cohen, MD

Assistant Professor
Mass Eye and Ear/ Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Daniel M. Zeitler, MD

Co-Director, Listen for Life Center
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Seattle, WA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
SA

Samantha Anne, MD

Medical Director, Pediatric Ear and Hearing Disorders; Professor, Pediatric Otolaryngology
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Chagrin Falls, OH, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.