title: Remote fitting in Nucleus cochlear implant recipients.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Remote programming is a viable alternative to face-to-face programming. The procedure can be regarded as safe, time and cost saving, and clinically feasible.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of commercially available video conferencing technology and remote control software for remote programming of sound processors in Nucleus cochlear implant recipients by assessing the feasibility, efficiency, risks, and benefits of remote programming compared to face-to-face programming.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, prospective study. Seventy Nucleus implant recipients were recruited for a random sequence comparison of one remote and one local programming session each. The time required for local or remote programming was measured and resulting MAP T and C levels were compared. The recipient provided feedback on the local and remote programming session. The audiologist and monitoring clinician were asked for their feedback on remote programming.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remote programming sessions were successfully finished for 69 recipients. No significant differences between T and C levels obtained by local and remote programming were found. The audiologists and monitoring clinicians agreed that the remote programming system provided an acceptable level of performance after most sessions. More than 50 participating recipients considered remote programming an efficient alternative to face-to-face-programming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany. thomas.wesarg@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wesarg
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wasowski
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skarzynski
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Falcon Gonzalez
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kyriafinis
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novakovich
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mauch
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laszig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult