Hearing aid fitting: application of telemedicine in audiology.
Telemedicine is used as a tool for therapeutic performances with the aid of telematics. The term telematics, a compound of the words telecommunication and informatics, means (in general) electronic transfer of digital data. We describe an application of telemedicine in the field of audiology: the initial fitting, setup, fine tuning, and follow-up fitting of all kinds of digital programmable and digital signal-processing devices and the fitting of hearing aids in real soundscapes. Against a backdrop of limited resources and continuous innovations, telemedicine offers the possibility of increasing the efficiency of audiological methods and decreasing expenses at the same time.
Wesendahl
Theo
T
Mathias-Spital/auric Hörsysteme, Rheine, Germany. t.wesendahl@t-online.de
D001298:Audiology / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*