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.
Rebecca Cihocki Au.D. joined Oticon Medical in 2012 as the Clinical Audiologist for the western United States. Rebecca earned her Au.D. with Salus University; she also holds a Masters of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. Dr. Cihocki has over 15 years of clinical audiology experience; including 8 years at the House Ear Clinic, where she specialized in treatment of SSD patients and adults with middle ear disorders. Prior to joining Oticon Medical, Dr. Cihocki worked at Phonak Hearing Instruments as customer trainer in the southwest and territory account manager in Arizona.
Related Courses
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