ABSTRACT
Introduction: To evaluate and validate the use of a remote check application in real life to enable cochlear implant (CI) recipients or parent/caregivers to monitor at home their progress and to help their clinicians to determine and plan for clinical visits based on their needs. Method(s): A total of 110 implanted patients (age range: 6-77 years;12-month implant experience and familiarity with vocabulary for digits 0 to 9) were included in this study, in which each subject served as their own control. The test battery includes an implant-site photograph, impedance measurements, datalogs, questionnaires, speech perception, and aided threshold tests. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis of the results obtained at home vs clinical setting. Result(s): In all but 2 cases (108/110, 98%) the test battery reached the same conclusion as the clinician in determining whether the recipient required any clinical action. Of recipients and parents/ caregivers, 90% (100/110) reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" if their clinic visits were based on results from the selfadministered remote test battery (P<.001). Reasons for satisfaction included the convenience of remote monitoring, the ability to request an appointment if needed, and the continued involvement of their clinician. Satisfaction ratings with the remote monitoring concept were moderately to strongly correlated with perceived improvement in convenience and time involved. Conclusion(s): Most respondents recognized that the remote check battery has the potential to save time, reduce costs, and increase the convenience of aftercare. The clinicians with remote check battery are adequately informed regarding patient management, appointment scheduling, and required clinical actions. This may also further support global case management during COVID-19 pandemic time of recommended social distancing.