title: Evaluation of the 'Fitting to Outcomes eXpert' (FOX®) with established cochlear implant users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the possible impact of 'Fitting to Outcomes eXpert (FOX(®))' on cochlear implant (CI) fitting in a clinic with extensive experience of fitting a range of CI systems, as a way to assess whether a software tool such as FOX is able to complement standard clinical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten adult post-lingually deafened and unilateral long-term users of the Advanced Bionics(TM) CI system (Clarion CII or HiRes 90K(TM)) underwent speech perception assessment with their current clinical program. One cycle 'iteration' of FOX optimization was performed and the program adjusted accordingly. After a month of using both clinical and FOX programs, a second iteration of FOX optimization was performed. Following this, the assessments were repeated without further acclimatization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FOX prescribed programming modifications in all subjects. Soundfield-aided thresholds were significantly lower for FOX than the clinical program. Group speech scores in noise were not significantly different between the two programs but three individual subjects had improved speech scores with the FOX MAP, two had worse speech scores, and five were the same.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOX provided a standardized approach to fitting based on outcome measures rather than comfort alone. The results indicated that for this group of well-fitted patients, FOX improved outcomes in some individuals. There were significant changes, both better and worse, in individual speech perception scores but median scores remained unchanged. Soundfield-aided thresholds were significantly improved for the FOX group.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buechner
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaerenberg
authors.forename: Dzemal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazibegovic
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brendel
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Ceulaer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govaerts
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D013067:Speech Perception
keywords: Cochlear implants; Device programing; Fitting; Outcomes; Speech perception