How We Ensure You Can Trust EARS Content

The standards, processes, and principles that guide everything we publish.

Why This Matters

You're reading EARS articles because you need reliable information about hearing loss—maybe for yourself, maybe for someone you love. You might be deciding whether to pursue treatment, trying to understand test results, or figuring out how to afford hearing aids.

These aren't casual decisions. They involve your health, your relationships, your finances, and your quality of life. You deserve to know that the information guiding these decisions is accurate, current, and trustworthy.

So here's how we ensure that—not in vague corporate language about "commitment to quality," but in specific, verifiable practices you can evaluate for yourself.

Our Core Principles

What Makes a Source "Authoritative"

We don't cite just any website or study. Here's what we consider trustworthy:

Tier 1: Primary Medical Sources

• Professional medical organizations: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
• Government health agencies: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Peer-reviewed medical journals: Published research in journals with rigorous peer review processes
• Academic medical centers: Clinical guidelines from institutions like UCSF, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic

Tier 2: Secondary Medical Sources

• Evidence-based clinical reviews: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from Cochrane or similar
• Medical textbooks: Current editions of standard otolaryngology and audiology texts
• Government databases: Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, ClinicalTrials.gov for specific data

What We Don't Use

• Personal blogs or opinion pieces without peer review
• Commercial websites selling products or services
• Forum posts or anecdotal reports (though we may reference common experiences)
• Studies in predatory journals or without peer review
• Outdated sources when newer evidence exists

Our Review Process

Articles move through multiple stages of review before and after publication. Here's how it works:

Stage 1: Editorial Review (Before AI Draft Publication)

Our editorial team reviews every article for:

• Accuracy: Do claims match authoritative sources?
• Completeness: Does the article address key questions readers will have?
• Clarity: Will someone without medical training understand this?
• Tone: Is it empathetic without being patronizing?
• Safety: Could anything mislead readers about urgent care needs?
• Citations: Are sources properly attributed and verifiable?

Articles that don't meet these standards don't get published, even as AI Drafts. We fix them first.

Stage 2: Clinical Validation (Before "Clinically Reviewed" Status)

UCSF clinical faculty—audiologists, ENT physicians, subspecialists—review articles for:

• Medical accuracy: Are diagnostic criteria, treatment protocols, and success rates current and correct?
• Clinical appropriateness: Does the guidance reflect real-world clinical practice?
• Patient safety: Are there any risks we've minimized or important caveats we've missed?
• Practice-specific details: For UCSF-specific content, do procedures and programs match reality?

Reviewers have full authority to modify, add, or remove any information. Their name goes on the article when it's approved.

Stage 3: Ongoing Maintenance

Even after clinical review, we continue monitoring content:

• Quarterly content audits: Systematic review of all articles for currency
• Guideline monitoring: When professional organizations update guidelines, we flag affected articles
• Reader feedback: Questions and corrections from readers prompt re-review
• Annual re-validation: Clinically reviewed articles cycle back through validation yearly

How We Handle Mistakes

We're human. Editorial oversight, AI assistance, and clinical review don't make us perfect. When mistakes happen, here's what we do:

Minor Corrections (Typos, Formatting, Clarifications)

• Fix immediately without fanfare
• Update the revision date
• No specific correction notice needed

Significant Corrections (Factual Errors, Misleading Information)

• Fix immediately with priority over other work
• Add a correction notice at the top of the article explaining what was wrong and what changed
• Update revision date and note the correction in our change log
• If the error could affect health decisions, consider proactive notification to users

Major Issues (Patient Safety Concerns)

• Remove the article immediately if it poses safety risks
• Post a notice explaining the removal
• Conduct internal review to understand how the error occurred
• Implement process changes to prevent similar errors
• Republish only after thorough re-review and clinical validation

What We Don't Do

It's worth being explicit about practices we avoid:

We Don't Accept Advertising or Sponsorships

EARS is funded by UCSF Health. We don't accept money from device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, or other commercial interests. This keeps our content free from conflicts of interest.

We Don't Promote Specific Providers or Products

When we discuss treatments or devices, we cover the category (hearing aids, cochlear implants) rather than recommending specific brands or models. UCSF programs are mentioned when relevant, but always alongside information about finding care elsewhere.

We Don't Oversimplify Complex Medical Decisions

Some topics don't have easy answers. Rather than pretending they do, we help you understand the factors involved so you can make informed decisions with your healthcare provider.

We Don't Diagnose or Provide Personal Medical Advice

Every article makes clear that the information is educational and doesn't replace consultation with qualified healthcare providers. We can't tell you what's right for your specific situation—only your medical team can do that.

Content Update Cycles

Medical knowledge evolves. Here's how we keep content current:

Triggered Updates (As Needed)

• When professional organizations release updated clinical guidelines
• When major research findings change clinical recommendations
• When FDA approval status changes for devices or treatments
• When readers identify errors or outdated information

Scheduled Reviews

• Quarterly: High-traffic articles on rapidly evolving topics (insurance coverage, device costs, FDA-approved treatments)
• Annually: All clinically reviewed articles cycle back through clinical validation
• Every 2 years: Comprehensive review of all content regardless of status

Every article displays its last review date. If you're reading something published more than a year ago and want to confirm it's still current, email us and we'll prioritize reviewing it.

Privacy and Anonymization

When articles include patient scenarios or experiences:

• All identifying information is removed or altered (names, specific locations, dates, unique circumstances)
• Composite scenarios are used that represent common experiences rather than specific individuals
• Direct quotes require written consent if they're from actual patients
• Photos are stock images or used with explicit permission

We never share details from real patients without their informed consent, and even then, we protect their identity.

Accessibility Standards

EARS content is designed to be accessible to everyone:

• Plain language: We avoid jargon or explain it when necessary
• Readability: Target 8th-10th grade reading level for most content
• Visual accessibility: Proper heading hierarchy, alt text for images, sufficient color contrast
• Screen reader compatibility: Semantic HTML and ARIA labels where needed
• Multilingual content: Key resources translated into languages commonly spoken by our patient population

If you encounter accessibility barriers, please let us know so we can fix them.

The Bottom Line

These standards exist to protect you. When you're navigating hearing loss—researching treatment options, trying to afford care, deciding whether surgery makes sense—you need information you can trust.

We know trust is earned, not declared. These standards are our commitment to earning yours through consistent accuracy, transparency about limitations, prompt corrections when we're wrong, and respect for the responsibility we have when you turn to us for guidance.

If we're not living up to these standards, tell us. We take that feedback seriously because getting this right matters—for you, for your loved ones, and for everyone navigating the isolating experience of hearing loss.