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FDA approves first telehealth option to program cochlear implants remotely

A cochlear implant is an implanted electronic hearing device, designed to produce useful hearing sensations to a person with severe to profound hearing loss, by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear. Cochlear implants often require regular programming visits with an audiologist.

To support the approval of the remote programming feature for the Nucleus Cochlear Implant System, the FDA evaluated data from a clinical study of 39 patients, aged 12 or older, each of whom had a cochlear implant for at least one year. Each patient had one in-person programming session and two remote programming sessions, and tests showed no significant difference between in-person and remote programing.

​This feature is designed for patients who have had six months of experience with their cochlear implant sound processor. Being able to have a qualified audiologist program the device via telemedicine from a remote location can greatly reduce the burden to patients and their families, especially those who must travel great distances or need frequent adjustments.

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