(0904) “Remote Check” Telehealth Indications in Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

Introduction: To identify the adult cochlear implant recipients that can appropriately use “Remote Check” telehealth application to monitor remotely at-home their hearing rehabilitation level and to verify clinicians’ ability to schedule in-clinic sessions according to patients’ needs.

Methods: This is a 24-month-prospective-study performed in a tertiary/quaternary care referral centre.
Sixty adults (females n = 27; males n = 33; age range 19-79 years), with >24 months cochlear implant stable hearing level (20-30dBHL for 0.5-4Hz) and stable speech recognition threshold (60-80%), have been included in this study and randomely divided into two groups. Thirty patients used “Remote Check” application at-home and 30 subjects followed in-clinic usual care pathway (control group). Chi-square test has been used for statistical analysis of the outcomes between the two groups.

Results: Out of 30 patients, 27 of the “Remote Check” group identified correctly if they need an in-clinic evaluation. “Remote Check” questionnaire and impedance measurements demonstrated some criticalities in 3 patients. The statistical analysis of the outcomes (abnormal issues identified) between the two groups demonstrated no significant difference (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The “Remote Check” application is a useful tool to avoid unnecessary in-clinic appointments in cochlear implant users with stable and adequate aided hearing levels. A careful process of decision-making about the patients suitable to use “Remote Check” application is mandatory, because tasks are not indicated for anyone. To simplify and to shorten some function of the “Remote Check” application is suggested to correctly identify the patients that need in-clinic evaluation.