@article{RajeswaranTavoraVieiraMertensetal.2022, author = {Rajeswaran, Ranjith and Tavora-Vieira, Dayse and Mertens, Griet and Dillon, Margaret and Narayan, Saranya and Kameswaran, Mohan and Kurz, Anja}, title = {Audiological practice and COVID-19: recommendations that audiological centers can use to maintain the safety and quality of service-expert opinion}, series = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology}, volume = {279}, journal = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology}, number = {3}, issn = {1434-4726}, doi = {10.1007/s00405-021-06766-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266774}, pages = {1251-1256}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Purpose Audiology is an essential service for some patient groups and some interventions. This article sets forth experience-based recommendations for how audiological centers can continue to safely and effectively function during COVID-19. Methods The recommendations are the result of panel discussion and are based on the clinical experience of the panelists/authors. Results The recommendations cover which patient groups and which interventions should be treated when and whether this can be performed in the clinic or remotely; how to maintain the safety of workplace via optimizing patient flow within the clinic and the sanitation of rooms and equipment; and overcoming communication challenges that COVID-19 intensifies. Conclusion For essential audiological services to continue under COVID-19, safety measures must be implemented and maintained, and treatment and communication strategies must be adapted to offset communication difficulties due to personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing and to bolster patient confidence. In short, it is vital that staff feel safe, that patients either feel the clinic is safe enough to visit or that remote treatment may be an option, and that clinics and patients have a broad agreement on the urgency of any needed service. We hope that these recommendations help clinics effectively accomplish these goals.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerBrillHagenetal.2012, author = {M{\"u}ller, Joachim and Brill, Stefan and Hagen, Rudolf and Moeltner, Alexander and Brockmeier, Steffi-Johanna and Stark, Thomas and Helbig, Silke and Maurer, Jan and Zahnert, Thomas and Zierhofer, Clemens and Nopp, Peter and Anderson, Ilona}, title = {Clinical Trial Results with the MED-EL Fine Structure Processing Coding Strategy in Experienced Cochlear Implant Users}, series = {ORL}, volume = {74}, journal = {ORL}, number = {4}, issn = {0301-1569}, doi = {10.1159/000337089}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-196396}, pages = {185-198}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Objectives: To assess the subjective and objective performance of the new fine structure processing strategy (FSP) compared to the previous generation coding strategies CIS+ and HDCIS. Methods: Forty-six adults with a minimum of 6 months of cochlear implant experience were included. CIS+, HDCIS and FSP were compared in speech perception tests in noise, pitch scaling and questionnaires. The randomized tests were performed acutely (interval 1) and again after 3 months of FSP experience (interval 3). The subjective evaluation included questionnaire 1 at intervals 1 and 3, and questionnaire 2 at interval 2, 1 month after interval 1. Results: Comparison between FSP and CIS+ showed that FSP performed at least as well as CIS+ in all speech perception tests, and outperformed CIS+ in vowel and monosyllabic word discrimination. Comparison between FSP and HDCIS showed that both performed equally well in all speech perception tests. Pitch scaling showed that FSP performed at least as well as HDCIS. With FSP, sound quality was at least as good and often better than with HDCIS. Conclusions: Results indicate that FSP performs better than CIS+ in vowel and monosyllabic word understanding. Subjective evaluation demonstrates strong user preferences for FSP when listening to speech and music.}, language = {en} } @article{MertensAndriesKurzetal.2022, author = {Mertens, Griet and Andries, Ellen and Kurz, Anja and Tȧvora-Vieira, Dayse and Calvino, Miryam and Amann, Edda and Anderson, Ilona and Lorens, Artur}, title = {Towards a consensus on an ICF-based classification system for horizontal sound-source localization}, series = {Journal of Personalized Medicine}, volume = {12}, journal = {Journal of Personalized Medicine}, number = {12}, issn = {2075-4426}, doi = {10.3390/jpm12121971}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297319}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The study aimed to develop a consensus classification system for the reporting of sound localization testing results, especially in the field of cochlear implantation. Against the background of an overview of the wide variations present in localization testing procedures and reporting metrics, a novel classification system was proposed to report localization errors according to the widely accepted International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. The obtained HEARRING_LOC_ICF scale includes the ICF graded scale: 0 (no impairment), 1 (mild impairment), 2 (moderate impairment), 3 (severe impairment), and 4 (complete impairment). Improvement of comparability of localization results across institutes, localization testing setups, and listeners was demonstrated by applying the classification system retrospectively to data obtained from cohorts of normal-hearing and cochlear implant listeners at our institutes. The application of our classification system will help to facilitate multi-center studies, as well as allowing better meta-analyses of data, resulting in improved evidence-based practice in the field.}, language = {en} } @article{KurzZanzingerHagenetal.2021, author = {Kurz, Anja and Zanzinger, Maren and Hagen, Rudolf and Rak, Kirsten}, title = {The impact of cochlear implant microphone settings on the binaural hearing of experienced cochlear implant users with single sided deafness}, series = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology}, journal = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology}, edition = {corrected version}, issn = {0937-4477}, doi = {10.1007/s00405-020-06450-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-231750}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Objective Cochlear implantation has become a well-accepted treatment option for people with single-sided deafness (SSD) and has become a clinical standard in many countries. A cochlear implant (CI) is the only device which restores binaural hearing. The effect of microphone directionality (MD) settings has been investigated in other CI indication groups, but its impact on speech perception in noise has not been established in CI users with SSD. The focus of this investigation was, therefore, to assess binaural hearing effects using different MD settings in CI users with SSD. Methods Twenty-nine experienced CI users with SSD were recruited to determine speech reception thresholds with varying target and noise sources to define binaural effects (head shadow, squelch, summation, and spatial release from masking), sound localization, and sound quality using the SSQ12 and HISQUI19 questionnaires. Outcome measures included the MD settings "natural", "adaptive", and "omnidirectional". Results The 29 participants involved in the study were divided into two groups: 11 SONNET users and 18 OPUS 2/RONDO users. In both groups, a significant head shadow effect of 7.4-9.2 dB was achieved with the CI. The MD setting "adaptive" provided a significant head shadow effect of 9.2 dB, a squelch effect of 0.9 dB, and spatial release from masking of 7.6 dB in the SONNET group. No significant summation effect could be determined in either group with CI. Outcomes with the omnidirectional setting were not significantly different between groups. For both groups, localization improved significantly when the CI was activated and was best when the omnidirectional setting was used. The groups' sound quality scores did not significantly differ. Conclusions Adaptive directional microphone settings improve speech perception and binaural hearing abilities in CI users with SSD. Binaural effect measures are valuable to quantify the benefit of CI use, especially in this indication group.}, language = {en} }