Sound Processor Usage
otitis
OTITIS
In total, 53 patients were asked to what extent they used their sound processor. Forty-eight patients made use of their sound processor, of which 38 patients daily and 36 patients the entire day (≥16 hours). Eleven patients reported selective use of their sound processor, for example, during school or work, watching television, or only during periods of otitis (once/twice a year). Five patients were nonusers. Reasons for nonuse varied widely: dissatisfaction with the device's (mechanical) sound, alternate usage of a conventional Contralateral Routing Of Signals device, or the alternate use of a headset since working from home. Mean sound processor use at 10 years was 5.6 (SD, ±2.55) days a week and 12.1 (SD, ±6.33) hours a day. Two patients even reported using their sound processor at night: one patient during the weeks her husband was hospitalized and one bilaterally fitted patient alternated between the two implants every other night.