Our experience with home self-assessment of speech recognition in the care pathway of 10 newly implanted adult cochlear implant users

The number of CI users has grown rapidly, resulting in an increased workload for CI centres and a need for new and innovative ways to provide healthcare to users of a CI. A telehealth application was developed with a functionality to self-administer speech recognition tests at home, which was evaluated in 10 newly-implanted patients. Speech recognition in quiet and in noise improved steadily during the first few weeks of rehabilitation, after which it stabilized. The home tests provided a good alternative to testing in the clinic for newly-implanted patients who were able and willing to perform part of their CI care from home, and felt confident in using the technology required. Frequently administered speech recognition self-tests provide fine-grained progress details which enable clinicians to monitor their CI user's speech recognition ability over time without the need for users of a CI to visit the clinic. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.