Article
Evaluation of the Harmony TCoil
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Authors
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Hilke Saalfeld
- Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
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Carolin Frohne-Buechner
- Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
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Martina Brendel
- Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
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Andreas Buechner
- Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
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Thomas Lenarz
- Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover, Germany
| Published: | July 22, 2009 |
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Outline
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.
