Cochlear implant audiology is fairly specialized, and is therefore often only available in larger cities or via 'outreach' services, which involve a specialist audiologist travelling to different sites. This can place a real burden on subjects who live in remote or rural locations, and their families. Remote programming is currently approved for any type of fitting session (first-fitting and follow-up fitting) in all subjects receiving a MED-EL cochlear implant regardless of their age. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of electrophysiological testing, fitting parameters, pure tone audiometry and speech intelligibility measures. The subjects were fit via 2 procedures (remote and face-to-face) and electrophysiological parameters, pure tone audiometry and speech intelligibility outcomes were assessed acutely after each session in a standard audiological test setup at the study centers. In addition each fitting session was appraised by the remote expert, local host, and the subject via an ad hoc designed questionnaire. In this study we involved 25 children with their parents and 20 adults. Data gathered on subjects receiving a follow- up fitting, show a general good acceptance and a positive appraisal of the remote setting by the subjects themselves and the professionals involved. Likewise, fitting maps generated with either setting did not differ significantly and initial data on the outcomes of the two set-ups on speech intelligibility show similar performances for what concern subjects receiving follow-up fittings. In addition both, the remote and the local fitting, could be performed in a similar amount of time without experiencing major delays or interruptions. Remote fittings in persons with a MED-EL CI, in the setting made in this study, are as good as normal fittings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
CITATION STYLE
Schepers, K., Möltner, A., Ebenhoch, H., Bauer, K., & Böck, K. (2018). Remote Support for First- and Follow-Up-Fittings of MED-EL Cochlear Implants. In Forschung heute – Zukunft morgen (Vol. 97). Georg Thieme Verlag KG. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1640773
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