Use of Direct-Connect for Remote Speech-Perception Testing in Cochlear Implants.
Joshua D Sevier, Sangsook Choi, Michelle L Hughes
PMID 30640730WHAT IT FOUND
Speech perception scores for cochlear implant users were not significantly different when tested remotely via direct audio input compared to in-person sound booth testing.
This suggests remote testing is a valid alternative for monitoring outcomes, removing the need for a sound booth at the patient's location.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference in speech perception scores between remote direct audio input testing and in-person sound booth testing.
02Mean word and phoneme scores were nearly identical between conditions (71.1% vs 71.5% for words; 83.7% vs 83.3% for phonemes).
03Sentence scores (HINT and AzBio) also showed no significant difference between remote and in-person conditions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on research software (ListPlayer) and proprietary calibration tools that are not currently available for commercial clinical use. The remote condition was conducted in a different room in the same building, not in a true home or rural clinic environment, though DAI was intended to negate room acoustics. Participants were required to be proficient in spoken English and had at least nine months of device use, excluding new users or those with other communication difficulties. The study could not separate the effect of the remote setting from the direct audio input method itself, as both were applied together. There was no talk-over feature in the DAI setup, requiring non-verbal cues (cards) to communicate with participants during testing.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (N.I.H.). The text does not explicitly list financial conflicts of interest for the authors, but notes that equipment and software modifications were provided or used from manufacturers Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Ltd.
The easy way to misread this
Do not implement this protocol in your clinic immediately. The study used research-only software and calibration methods that are not currently available in commercial clinical systems. Additionally, direct audio input bypasses the processor's microphone, meaning this testing method cannot detect issues related to microphone malfunction or performance in natural listening environments.