PAGE 3 WHITEPAPER 2016 – BIMODAL HEARING AID FITTING GUIDELINES Bimodal flowchart. Start with wideband fitting YES Is the patient a candidate for frequency lowering? NO Create frequency lowering program & Verify loudness balance Return to wideband fitting Address any sound quality concerns with the hearing aid & Verify loudness balance Is the patient satisfied? & Is bimodal performance better than or equal to CI alone? NO Is the patient satisfied? & Is bimodal performance better than or equal to CI alone? YES Use frequency lowering Use wideband fitting YES NO Use reduced bandwidth Create restricted bandwidth program with or without low frequency emphasis & Verify loudness balance YES Further evaluation needed NO Is the patient satisfied? & Is bimodal performance better than or equal to CI alone? All unilateral cochlear implant recipients with aidable residual hearing in the other ear are candidates for hearing aid use. This flowchart provides an evidence-based, yet practical, method for fitting a hearing aid on a bimodal patient. The flowchart takes into account wideband fitting, restricted bandwidth fitting, use of frequency lowering and loudness balancing. THE TRY IVE RACT L E INT DA O M I B ART WCH FLO
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