title: Assessment of 'Fitting to Outcomes Expert' FOX™ with new cochlear implant users in a multi-centre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the fitting time requirements and the efficiency in achieving improvements in speech perception during the first 6 months after initial stimulation of computer-assisted fitting with the Fitting to Outcome eXpert' (FOX) and a standard clinical fitting procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven post-lingually deafened adults, newly implanted recipients of the Advanced Bionics HiRes 90K™ cochlear implant from Germany, the UK, and France took part in a controlled, randomized, clinical study. Speech perception was measured for all participants and fitting times were compared across groups programmed using FOX and conventional programming methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fitting time for FOX was significantly reduced at 14 days (P < 0.001) but equivalent over the 6-month period. The groups were not well matched for duration of deafness; therefore, speech perception could not be compared across groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite including more objective measures of performance than a standard fitting approach and the adjustment of a greater range of parameters during initial fitting, FOX did not add to the overall fitting time when compared to the conventional approach. FOX significantly reduced the fitting time in the first 2 weeks and by providing a standard fitting protocol, reduced variability across centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOX computer-assisted fitting can be successfully used at switch on, in different clinical environments, reducing fitting time in the first 2 weeks and is efficient at providing a usable program.
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Battmer
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brendel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buchner
authors.forename: Huw
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fielden
authors.forename: Dzemal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazibegovic
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goetze
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govaerts
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenartz
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mosnier
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muff
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaerenberg
authors.forename: Zebunissa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vanat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Cochlear implant; Computer-assisted fitting; FOX; Initial stimulation; M-levels; MAP; Programming; T-levels