gms | German Medical Science

80. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

20.05. - 24.05.2009, Rostock

Evaluation of the Harmony TCoil

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author Hilke Saalfeld - Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
  • author Carolin Frohne-Buechner - Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
  • author Martina Brendel - Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
  • author Andreas Buechner - Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
  • author Thomas Lenarz - Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 80th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Rostock, 20.-24.05.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. Doc09hno018

doi: 10.3205/09hno018, urn:nbn:de:0183-09hno0187

Veröffentlicht: 22. Juli 2009

© 2009 Saalfeld et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Introduction: The current behind-the-ear processor of Advanced Bionics offers an implemented TCoil as a further option for telephone use. In an acute test session four options of using the telephone were compared: the in-built microphone, the TMic (microphone positioned in the concha), the external TCoil and the Harmony in-built TCoil.

Material and method: In this study 14 subjects implanted with a HiRes90K or CII implant system were enrolled. The mean age of the participants was 52 years (32 to 72 years) and the mean age of deafness was 48 years (24 to 67 years). The Freiburger Monosyllables test was conducted via telephone.

Results: The results of the speech test show no significant differences in the following conditions: in-built microphone (52.9%), TMic (55.2%) and in-built TCoil (54.1%). The external TCoil achieved a highly significant better result (66.4%) then all the other conditions. A clear subjective preference for the conditions external TCoil and TMic (both 35.7%) could be evaluated.

Conclusion: The speech perception test shows similar results for the in-built TCoil of the Harmony as well as for the in-built microphone and the TMic. The TCoil offers a benefit in the daily routine. To phone in a noisy area is easier with the TCoil because the background noise can be disabled. For CI users who are often use an induction system the external TCoil can be advised.