How well do you hear in the Real-World?
USAIS is introducing a new 2-hour appointment for bilateral cochlear implant users aged 14 and older with a BKB score of ≥ 50%. This is being done to implement new audiology tests that are more representative of hearing with two ears and in everyday listening situations. This is a new USAIS Service Development/Evaluation project.
The tests are similar to the test you are familiar with where speech and competing noise are presented from a loudspeaker in front to you.
For the new tests the speech and noise are presented from different speakers placed around you.
This is more representative of everyday listening situations such as:
- Hearing while having a meal in a restaurant with one or more people.
- Hearing a person sat next to you in a car.
- Being able to tell which direction a sound is coming from (Localisation).
As part of the appointment, an audiologist will also ask you about you experience of listening with your cochlear implant in the real world and whether these tests better represent your daily listening experience.
Your results will be reviewed afterwards, in consultation with Dr Roberta Buhagiar (USAIS clinical coordinator), and you will receive a report of your results. If indicated, we will offer you focused rehabilitation support/recommendations and/or a further tuning appointment. The outcomes will also be used to inform service provision and ongoing development.
This is an optional appointment. You will offered a once off £20 gift card to acknowledge your time and involvement.
For more information about the project, please contact ais.plus@soton.ac.uk indicating that the email is For the attention of Isabel McGauley