Experiences of the use of FOX, an intelligent agent, for programming cochlear implant sound processors in new users

Abstract

Abstract

Objective. This report describes the application of the software tool “Fitting to Outcomes eXpert” (FOX) in programming the cochlear implant (CI) processor in new users. FOX is an intelligent agent to assist in the programming of CI processors. The concept of FOX is to modify maps on the basis of specific outcome measures, achieved using heuristic logic and based on a set of deterministic “rules”. Design. A prospective study was conducted on eight consecutive CI-users with a follow-up of three months. Study Sample. Eight adult subjects with postlingual deafness were implanted with the Advanced Bionics HiRes90k device. The implants were programmed using FOX, running a set of rules known as Eargroup's EG0910 advice, which features a set of “automaps”. The protocol employed for the initial 3 months is presented, with description of the map modifications generated by FOX and the corresponding psychoacoustic test results. Results. The 3 month median results show 25 dBHL as PTA, 77% (55 dBSPL) and 71% (70 dBSPL) phoneme score at speech audiometry and loudness scaling in or near to the normal zone at different frequencies. Conclusions. It is concluded that this approach is feasible to start up CI fitting and yields good outcome.

Sumario

Objetivo: Este reporte describe la aplicación del programa-herramienta “Fitting to Outcomes eXpert” (“eXperto en adaptación por resultados”) (FOX) en la programación de procesadores de implante coclear (IC) para usuarios nuevos. El concepto de FOX es modificar los mapas sobre la base de medidas específicas de resultados, logradas usando una lógica heurística y basado en un grupo de “reglas” determinísticas. DiseÑo: Se condujo un estudio prospectivo en ocho usuarios consecutivos de CI con un seguimiento de tres meses. Muestra Del Estudio: Ocho sujetos adultos con sordera post-lingüística fueron implantados con el dispositivo Advanced Bionics HiRes90k. Los implantes fueron programados usando el FOX, usando un grupo de reglas conocidas como consejo EG910 del EarGroup, que presenta un grupo de “automapas”. Se presenta el protocolo empleado para los primeros 3 meses, con descripción de las modificaciones de los mapas generados con FOX y los resultados de las pruebas psicoacústicas correspondientes. Resultados: La mediana de los resultados a 3 meses muestra un PTA de 25 dB HL, puntajes de fonemas en la logoaudiometría de 77% (55 dB SPL) y 71% (70 dB SPL), y una escala de intensidad subjetiva dentro o cercana a la zona normal en diferentes frecuencias. Conclusiones: Se concluye que este enfoque es factible para iniciar la programación de un CI y que brinda buenos resultados.

Key Words::

• Cochlear implant
• Behavioural measures
• Instrumentation
• Speech perception

Acknowledgements

Support: BV received a PhD grant for this work from the IWT (Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology, Baekeland-mandaat IWT090287). Part of the work is supported by a 7th Framework for SME grant (“Opti-Fox”) from the European Commission.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.