title: Teleaudiology: evaluation of teleconsultation efficacy for hearing aid fitting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate teleconsultation's efficacy for hearing aid fitting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty hearing impaired individuals with ages ranging from 39 to 88 years and mean audiometric thresholds between 30 and 68.75 dBHL participated in this study. Participants were divided into two groups (stratified randomization): control group (n=25), submitted to face-to-face procedures, and experimental group (n=25), submitted to synchronous teleconsultation with interactive video and remote applicative control. The hearing aids were programmed and verified (with microphone probe), and the subjects received instructions regarding use and care for the device. Time taken for the procedures was measured. Following the consultations, an evaluator (blind to the groups) applied the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT-Brazil). Approximately one month after consultations, the daily time of hearing aid use was verified, and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A greater time for programming and verification and a smaller time for orientation were observed for the experimental group. No difference was found between groups for the total consultation time. The real ear measures' matching to their respective targets was similar for both groups. No difference was observed between groups for the HINT results (silence and noise), the daily amount of use of hearing aids in hours, and the IOI-HA scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teleconsultation is an efficient procedure for hearing aid programming, verification and fitting when face-to-face services are not available.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program (Masters degree) in Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru (SP), Brazil. pati_danieli@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Patrícia Danieli
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Deborah Viviane
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods*; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome