ORIGINAL ARTICLE
COMPARING BEHIND-THE-EAR AND SINGLE-UNIT COCHLEAR IMPLANT AUDIO PROCESSORS IN 83 NEWLY IMPLANTED SUBJECTS
Benoit Godey 1, A-B,E
,
 
,
 
Hermann Ruben 3, A-B,E
,
 
Isabelle Mosnier 4, A-B,E
,
 
Christine Poncet 5, A-B,E
,
 
,
 
Eric Truy 3, A-B,E
,
 
,
 
,
 
Vincent Péan 9, A,C-F
 
 
 
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1
Department of Otolaryngology, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France., France
 
2
Department of Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France., France
 
3
Department of Audiology and Otorhinolaryngology IMPACT Team, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France. Centre for Research in Neuroscience in Lyon, France
 
4
Department of Otology, Hearing Implants and Skull Base Surgery, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France., France
 
5
Cochlear Implantation Fitting Centre, Rothschild Hospital, Paris, France., France
 
6
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France., France
 
7
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France., France
 
8
Department of Otology and Neurotology, University of Lille, Lille, France., France
 
9
Research, MED-EL France, France
 
 
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article;
 
 
Submission date: 2020-05-20
 
 
Final revision date: 2020-07-27
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-10-16
 
 
Publication date: 2020-12-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Vincent Péan   

Research, MED-EL France, Rue Abel, 75012, Paris, France
 
 
J Hear Sci 2020;10(4):33-39
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
The RONDO is a single-unit device that merges both the OPUS 2 behind-the-ear audio processor and the coil into a single housing. The study aims to assess the perceived auditory abilities and opinions of newly implanted subjects using the OPUS 2 and/or the RONDO in everyday life.

Material and methods:
We studied 83 newly implanted subjects who received the RONDO and OPUS 2 and were free to use whichever processor they preferred or a combination of the two. User satisfaction was evaluated after at least 4 weeks of use (after the first fitting) using the device-specific RONDO questionnaire.

Results:
Results showed that 77% of subjects were satisfied with the RONDO in general, and 92% of subjects either preferred to use the RONDO or liked both audio processors equally while wearing eyeglasses. Overall, 91% of subjects would recommend the RONDO to other CI users. RONDO was significantly (p<0.05) preferred at home, for cultural events, or when wearing glasses; OPUS 2 was preferred for sport or while wearing a cap.

Conclusions:
The RONDO was associated with a high degree of user satisfaction among newly implanted CI users and offers CI users further options in terms of wearer comfort and cosmetic appearance. Thus, CI users can, if they wish, switch from the OPUS 2 to the RONDO without affecting their hearing ability or speech understanding.

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