Evaluation of remote check in children with cochlear implants.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cochlear implants (CI) require regular follow-up for optimal performance.
• In-person appointments can be burdensome for pediatric patients and families.
• Telehealth solutions are increasingly explored to improve healthcare accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of Remote Check (RC) for pediatric CI recipients.
• To determine the optimal age range for implementing RC in this population.
• To evaluate the impact of RC on the need for in-person clinic visits.

Main Methods:

• A web-based RC application was used to evaluate 58 pediatric CI recipients aged 1-17 years.
• Audiologists conducted remote assessments, with most participants using verbal communication.
• Inclusion criteria included stable CI map status and caregiver technological proficiency.

Main Results:

• 89.7% of participants successfully completed remote assessments.
• Aided threshold tests (ATT) were completed by 73.2%, and speech-in-noise tests (DTT) by 47.3%.
• Children as young as 4 completed ATT, while DTT required a minimum age of 7; verbally communicative children and those with highly educated parents showed higher success rates. 69% of children avoided clinic visits.

Conclusions:

• Remote Check (RC) is an effective and feasible tool for pediatric CI users, including those as young as one year old.
• RC can significantly reduce the need for in-person appointments, enhancing patient care accessibility.
• Integration of RC into routine follow-up protocols is recommended for improved management of pediatric CI recipients.