Have Cochlear Implant, Won't Have to Travel: Introducing Telemedicine to People Using Cochlear Implants.

PURPOSE: This research note describes a planned project to design, implement, and evaluate remote care for adults using cochlear implants and compare their outcomes with those of individuals following the standard care pathway.

METHOD: Sixty people with cochlear implants will be recruited and randomized to either the remote care group or a control group. The remote care group will use new tools for 6 months: remote and self-monitoring, self-adjustment of device, and a personalized online support tool. The main outcome measure is patient empowerment, with secondary outcomes of stability in hearing and quality of life, patient and clinician preference, and use of clinic resources.

CONCLUSION

The clinical trial ends in summer 2016. Remote care may offer a viable method of follow-up for some adults with cochlear implants.