Commentary – Consensus research priorities for facial palsy: a Delphi survey of patients, carers, clinicians and researchers

Facial paralysis is a devastating medical condition with approximately 50 cases per 100,000 in the United States.1 The psychological and social distress in individuals with facial paralysis is well documented.2 The overall societal burden and costs are less well understood. With divergent priorities and finite healthcare and research funds, the need for focused research efforts to maximize treatment outcomes is ever more important. This study by Hamlet et al highlights a novel attempt to develop research priorities for facial paralysis using a Delphi survey of a multi-disciplinary group of facial nerve experts, patients and caregivers.