Candidacy Assessment
A structured clinical evaluation to determine whether a patient meets the audiological, medical, and psychosocial criteria for a specific intervention such as a cochlear implant or bone-anchored hearing device.
Full Definition
A candidacy assessment in aural rehabilitation is a multi-stage process in which a team of clinicians reviews a patient's audiometric profile, medical history, communication needs, cognitive status, and psychosocial readiness to establish whether they are suitable for a particular intervention. For cochlear implantation, candidacy criteria are defined by regulatory bodies and funding authorities and include specific aided speech perception thresholds. For hearing aids, candidacy is less formally defined but still involves assessing the degree, type, and configuration of hearing loss, alongside the patient's motivation and communication goals. Editors should note that 'candidacy' is the correct form in this clinical context; 'candidateship' is not used.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'candidacy' not 'candidateship'. The specific criteria cited in the document should reference the relevant national guidelines or funding authority, as candidacy thresholds vary by jurisdiction.
In Context
- "Following the candidacy assessment, the cochlear implant team determined that the patient met audiological but not psychosocial criteria for immediate implantation." — Cochlear implant multidisciplinary team report
- "The candidacy assessment for bone-anchored hearing devices includes evaluation of skin integrity and bone thickness at the proposed implant site." — Surgical pre-assessment clinical note