Cochlear Implant Programming through the Internet

2016 ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Georgios Kyriafinis ◽  
Panteleimon Chriskos
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Special Care ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Mapping Functions ◽  
Large Numbers

The ordinary user of cochlear implants is subject to post-surgical treatment that calibrates and adapts via mapping functions the acoustic characteristics of the recipient's hearing. As the number of cochlear implant users reaches indeed large numbers and their dispersion over vast geographic areas seems to be a new trend with impressive expansion, the need for doctors and audiologists to remotely program the cochlear implants of their patients comes as first priority, facilitating users in their programmed professional or personal activities. As a result, activities that need special care, like playing sport, swimming, or recreation can be performed remotely, disburdening the recipient from traveling to the nearest specialized programming center. However, is remote programming safeguarded from hazards?

scholarly journals Qualitative assessment of YouTube videos as a source of patient information for cochlear implant surgery

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
C Thomas ◽  
J Westwood ◽  
G F Butt
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Implant Surgery ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Positive Elements ◽  
Cochlear Implant Surgery ◽  
Youtube Videos

Abstract Background YouTube is increasingly used as a source of healthcare information. This study evaluated the quality of videos on YouTube about cochlear implants. Methods YouTube was searched using the phrase ‘cochlear implant’. The first 60 results were screened by two independent reviewers. A modified Discern tool was used to evaluate the quality of each video. Results Forty-seven videos were analysed. The mean overall Discern score was 2.0 out of 5.0. Videos scored higher for describing positive elements such as the benefits of a cochlear implant (mean score of 3.4) and scored lower for negative elements such as the risks of cochlear implant surgery (mean score of 1.3). Conclusion The quality of information regarding cochlear implant surgery on YouTube is highly variable. These results demonstrated a bias towards the positive attributes of cochlear implants, with little mention of the risks or uncertainty involved. Although videos may be useful as supplementary information, critical elements required to make an informed decision are lacking. This is of particular importance when patients are considering surgery.

scholarly journals Prediction of Behavioral T/C Levels in Cochlear Implant Patients Based Upon Analysis of Electrode Impedances

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Molisz ◽  
A. Zarowski ◽  
E. Cardinael ◽  
A. Vermeiren ◽  
T. Theunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Compound Action Potentials ◽  
Subjective Threshold ◽  
Electrode Contact ◽  
Maximum Comfort

Abstract Background Fitting cochlear implants in babies and noncooperative patients is cumbersome and time consuming. Therefore, objective parameters have been sought in order to predict the subjective threshold (T) and maximum comfort (C) levels. Measurements of the electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) have been widely used for this purpose, yet the correlation between these objective measures and the subjective T/C levels is weak to moderate. Purpose This article aims (1) to evaluate correlations between the subjective parameters of the fitting maps such as thresholds (T level) and maximum comfort levels (C level), the impedance of the electrode contacts, and the ECAP thresholds, and (2) to compare the value of the electrode impedances and the ECAP measures for prediction of the T/C levels. Research Design Case review study in a quaternary otologic referral center. Study Sample Ninety-eight consecutive CI patients were enrolled. The average age of the patients was 49 years. All patients were users of the Nucleus 24RECA (Freedom, Contour Advance-of-Stylet electrode) cochlear implant. Data Collection and Analysis Data on impedance of the electrode contacts and the behavioral T/C levels at the first fitting session (2–5 weeks after surgery) and at the 5th fitting session (4–6 months after surgery) have been retrospectively collected in 98 consecutive CI patients. Additionally, the intraoperative impedance values and the ECAP thresholds (tNRT) have been recorded. Results Impedances of electrode contacts show significant strong negative correlations with the stabilized T/C levels at 4 to 6 months after implantation and are an important predictor for the behavioral T/C levels. They can explain R 2 = 28 to 41% of the variability of the behavioral T/C levels. In multiple regression analysis electrode contact impedances can explain twice as much of the variability of the stabilized T/C levels than the tNRT values. The electrode impedances together with the tNRT values are able to explain R 2 = 37 to 40% of the global variability of the T/C levels while the tNRT thresholds solely are able to explain only R 2 = 5 to 14% of the T/C levels variability. Conclusion Impedances of electrode contacts correlate strongly with the stabilized behavioral T/C levels and may be used as an objective measure for fitting of cochlear implants.

scholarly journals Auditory Speech Perception Development in Relation to Patient's Age with Cochlear Implant

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 206-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Ciscare ◽  
Erika Mantello ◽  
Carla Fortunato-Queiroz ◽  
Miguel Hyppolito ◽  
Ana Reis
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Auditory Thresholds ◽  
Caregiver Education ◽  
Auditory Speech ◽  
Hearing Aid Use

Introduction A cochlear implant in adolescent patients with pre-lingual deafness is still a debatable issue. Objective The objective of this study is to analyze and compare the development of auditory speech perception in children with pre-lingual auditory impairment submitted to cochlear implant, in different age groups in the first year after implantation. Method This is a retrospective study, documentary research, in which we analyzed 78 reports of children with severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral cochlear implant users of both sexes. They were divided into three groups: G1, 22 infants aged less than 42 months; G2, 28 infants aged between 43 to 83 months; and G3, 28 older than 84 months. We collected medical record data to characterize the patients, auditory thresholds with cochlear implants, assessment of speech perception, and auditory skills. Results There was no statistical difference in the association of the results among groups G1, G2, and G3 with sex, caregiver education level, city of residence, and speech perception level. There was a moderate correlation between age and hearing aid use time, age and cochlear implants use time. There was a strong correlation between age and the age cochlear implants was performed, hearing aid use time and age CI was performed. Conclusion There was no statistical difference in the speech perception in relation to the patient's age when cochlear implant was performed. There were statistically significant differences for the variables of auditory deprivation time between G3 - G1 and G2 - G1 and hearing aid use time between G3 - G2 and G3 - G1.

Differences in Children’s Sound Production When Speaking With a Cochlear Implant Turned On and Turned Off

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 604-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Tye-Murray ◽  
Linda Spencer ◽  
Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia ◽  
George Woodworth
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Proprioceptive Feedback ◽  
Speech Sample ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
Consonant Voicing ◽  
Vowel Height

Twenty children who have worn a Cochlear Corporation cochlear implant for an average of 33.6 months participated in a device-on/off experiment. They spoke 14 monosyllabic words three times each after having not worn their cochlear implant speech processors for several hours. They then spoke the same speech sample again with their cochlear implants turned on. The utterances were phonetically transcribed by speech-language pathologists. On average, no difference between speaking conditions on indices of vowel height, vowel place, initial consonant place, initial consonant voicing, or final consonant voicing was found. Comparisons based on a narrow transcription of the speech samples revealed no difference between the two speaking conditions. Children who were more intelligible were no more likely to show a degradation in their speech production in the device-off condition than children who were less intelligible. In the device-on condition, children sometimes nasalized their vowels and inappropriately aspirated their consonants. Their tendency to nasalize vowels and aspirate initial consonants might reflect an attempt to increase proprioceptive feedback, which would provide them with a greater awareness of their speaking behavior.

scholarly journals Neural envelope tracking as a measure of speech understanding in cochlear implant users

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eline Verschueren ◽  
Ben Somers ◽  
Tom Francart
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Envelope Tracking ◽  
Actual Speech ◽  
Speech Envelope ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg ◽  
Automatic Fitting

ABSTRACTThe speech envelope is essential for speech understanding and can be reconstructed from the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded while listening to running speech. This so-called neural envelope tracking has been shown to relate to speech understanding in normal hearing listeners, but has barely been investigated in persons wearing cochlear implants (CI). We investigated the relation between speech understanding and neural envelope tracking in CI users.EEG was recorded in 8 CI users while they listened to a story. Speech understanding was varied by changing the intensity of the presented speech. The speech envelope was reconstructed from the EEG using a linear decoder and then correlated with the envelope of the speech stimulus as a measure of neural envelope tracking which was compared to actual speech understanding.This study showed that neural envelope tracking increased with increasing speech understanding in every participant. Furthermore behaviorally measured speech understanding was correlated with participant specific neural envelope tracking results indicating the potential of neural envelope tracking as an objective measure of speech understanding in CI users. This could enable objective and automatic fitting of CIs and pave the way towards closed-loop CIs that adjust continuously and automatically to individual CI users.

scholarly journals High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation in a Patient with Bilateral Cochlear Implants

2021 ◽  
pp. 189-191
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Spinal Cord Stimulation ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pain Clinic ◽  
Bilateral Cochlear Implants ◽  
Patient Reported

BACKGROUND: High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) has become very popular in the management of chronic pain worldwide. As it relies on generating high-frequency electrical impulses, there is a risk of interference with other devices such as cochlear implants that utilize similar principles. A literature search did not reveal any case reports of HF-SCS implantation in a patient with cochlear implants. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old White woman with a history of bilateral cochlear implants (Cochlear Americas Nucleus® with cp910 processor) for severe sensorineural hearing loss presented to our chronic pain clinic with lumbosacral radiculopathy. The patient underwent a HF-SCS trial with entry point at the L1-L2 space and the leads positioned at the top and bottom of T8. The patient did not experience any auditory interference with her Cochlear implant at triple the average SCS stimulation strength. During the follow-up visit the next week, the patient reported nearly 80% symptomatic pain relief and significant functional improvement. There was no change in her hearing and no evidence of interference. The patient ultimately underwent percutaneous SCS paddle electrode placement and at 3 months, continues to have excellent pain relief without any auditory interactions. CONCLUSION: We successfully implanted a HF-SCS at the thoracic level in a patient with bilateral cochlear implants without any auditory interference. KEY WORDS: Cochlear implant, lumbar radiculopathy, spinal cord stimulation

Exploring Technology Evolution Using Patent Classification: A Case of Cochlear Implant Technology Patents

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (01) ◽  
pp. 1740002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srigowtham Arunagiri ◽  
Mary Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Patent Data ◽  
Technology Evolution ◽  
Medical Products ◽  
Patent Classification ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Dominant Classes ◽  
D Investment ◽  
Over Time

Understanding technology evolution through periodic landscaping is an important stage of strategic planning in R&D management. In fields like that of healthcare, where initial R&D investment is huge and good medical products serve patients better, activities of periodic landscaping become crucial for planning. Approximately 5% of the world’s population has hearing disabilities. Current hearing aid products meet less than 10% of the global needs. Patent data and classifications on cochlear implants from 1977–2010 show the technology evolution in the area of such an implant. We attempt to highlight emergence and disappearance of patent classes over a period of time indicating changes in growth of cochlear implant technologies. Using network analysis technique we explore and capture the technology evolution in patent classes by showing what emerged or disappeared over time. Dominant classes are identified. The sporadic influence of university research in cochlear implants is also discussed.

A Comprehensive Survey on Interoperability for IIoT: Taxonomy, Standards, and Future Directions

2023 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Abhishek Hazra ◽  
Mainak Adhikari ◽  
Tarachand Amgoth ◽  
Satish Narayana Srirama
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Industrial Iot ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Real Time Information ◽  
The Internet Of Things

In the era of Industry 4.0, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) performs the driving position analogous to the initial industrial metamorphosis. IoT affords the potential to couple machine-to-machine intercommunication and real-time information-gathering within the industry domain. Hence, the enactment of IoT in the industry magnifies effective optimization, authority, and data-driven judgment. However, this field undergoes several interoperable issues, including large numbers of heterogeneous IoT gadgets, tools, software, sensing, and processing components, joining through the Internet, despite the deficiency of communication protocols and standards. Recently, various interoperable protocols, platforms, standards, and technologies are enhanced and altered according to the specifications of the applicability in industrial applications. However, there are no recent survey papers that primarily examine various interoperability issues that Industrial IoT (IIoT) faces. In this review, we investigate the conventional and recent developments of relevant state-of-the-art IIoT technologies, frameworks, and solutions for facilitating interoperability between different IIoT components. We also discuss several interoperable IIoT standards, protocols, and models for digitizing the industrial revolution. Finally, we conclude this survey with an inherent discussion of open challenges and directions for future research.

Cyberstalking

Stalking ◽  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham D. Glancy ◽  
Alan W. Newman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Attorney General ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Behavior ◽  
Electronic Communications ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
E Mail

Cyberstalking involves the use of the Internet or other electronic communication to stalk another person. Already common, it is likely to become more common as the use of the Internet continues to grow. The characteristics of online stalkers and their victims have some differences from those of the offline stalker. Mullen, Pathé, Purcell, and Stuart’s (1999) classification may apply to cyberstalkers except for the apparently common phenomenon of child luring that may be a new category. The methods of cyberstalking, as described in this chapter, are particularly ingenious. We know little about the effect on victims, but postulate that it is similar to offline stalking. We make some suggestions that may prevent cyberstalking, as well as offer some steps to bear in mind once cyberstalking occurs. The proliferation of personal computers with Internet access in the last decade has raised concerns about a new phenomenon known as cyberstalking. The Internet can be used to annoy and harass large numbers of victims in a generic manner by disseminating computer viruses, Internet scams, and “spamming” people with unsolicited e-mail. In 1999 Janet Reno, the attorney general of the United States, defined cyberstalking as the use of the Internet, e-mail, or other electronic communications devices to stalk another person (Reno, 1999). Barak (2005) looked at the issue of sexual harassment on the Internet. He characterizes cyberstalking as one type of sexual coercion. He notes that online behavior is characterized by disinhibition, openness, venture, and bravado—an atmosphere characterized by typical masculine attitudes. He argues that the lack of legal boundaries or enforcement vehicles encourage people to do what they would not have done in offline situations. He notes the near impossibility of implementation of legal procedures on a large scale. In this chapter we will discuss what is known about the prevalence of this phenomenon, the types of cyberstalking, and what is known about the perpetrators. In addition, we will generate some hypotheses about the comparison between online and offline stalkers. We will also discuss the effects on victims and current thoughts and resources for dealing with cyberstalking.

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