title: Remote hearing aid fitting: Tele-audiology in the context of Brazilian Public Policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, the Brazilian government has certificated nearly 140 specialized centers in hearing aid fittings through the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). Remote fitting through the Internet can allow a broader and more efficient coverage with a higher likelihood of success for patients covered by the SUS, as they can receive fittings from their own homes instead of going to the few and distant specialized centers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of remote fitting between 2 cities, with revision of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer gears, a universal interface, and hearing aids were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audiologist located in a specialized center introduced a new hearing aid and its fitting procedure to a remote center (200 km away). The specialized center helped the remote center in fitting a hearing aid in 2 patients, and performed fitting in one of its own patients. The whole process was done through the Internet with audio and video in real time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients were fitted remotely. Three audiologists were remotely trained on how to fit the hearing aids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remote fitting of hearing aids is possible through the Internet, as well as further supplying technical training to a remote center about the fitting procedures. Such a technological approach can help the government advance public policies on hearing rehabilitation, as patients can be motivated about maintaining their use of hearing aids with the option to ask for help in the comfort of their own homes.
authors.affiliation: PhD in Sciences. Full-time Researcher, Fundação Otorrinolaringologia.
authors.forename: Silvio Pires
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Penteado
authors.affiliation: PhD from the Federal University of São Paulo. Clinical Head, Instituto Sul Mineiro de Otorrinolaringologia.
authors.forename: Sueli de Lima
authors.initials: Sde L
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine, Medical Ethics, Social Medicine Department, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Linamara Rizzo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Battistella
authors.affiliation: Deputy Professor, Medical School, University of São Paulo. Deputy Professor, Medical School, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Silvio Antonio Monteiro
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Medical School, University of São Paulo. Professor and Chairman, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Medical School, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
keywords: biomedical engineering; hearing aids; internet; public policies; technological development; telemedicine