Question
Why would we use Bluetooth or wireless for patients that have single-sided deafness (SSD) and use Ponto Plus, if they use the phone or listen with their better hearing ear anyway?
Answer
Rebecca Cihocki: That is a great question. Patients who have SSD and use Ponto Plus can simply use the Streamer as a remote control. They can adjust the volume using the Streamer and do not have to risk feedback from the device. Patients with SSD continue to struggle in noisy environments. In the past, FM was the best solution in these situations, but it was also the most expensive. Now, for a couple hundred dollars, not thousands of dollars, use of a companion microphone with Ponto Plus can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio of a crowded room.
The third situation is for hands-free phone use. Most states require drivers to use a hands-free headset when driving and talking on the phone. People with one hearing ear are reluctant to put anything into that only hearing ear. The Streamer allows them to hear telephone calls through the Ponto and the normal hearing ear.
Editor’s note: This Ask the Expert was adapted from the article Wireless Connectivity in our Daily Lives: Enhancing the Ponto Plus Experience. For more information about Oticon Medical and the Ponto System, visit www.oticonmedical.com or the Oticon Medical Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
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