PURPOSE: to evaluate the repeated measurements of the real ear unaided response (REUR), real ear aided response (REAR) and insertion gain (REIG) conducted as face to face (F) and via telecounselling (T). METHOD: longitudinal prospective study. Four measures of REUR, REAR and REIG (carried out with speech noise stimulus presented at 65 dB SPL at 0° azimuth) were obtained in 19 ears in normal hearing adults, face to face and via synchronous telecounsellings with remote control of the real ear equipment and interactive video. Polycom PVX software was used for desktop sharing and video and audio transmission. The Loca Area Network (LAN) USP was used for the connection (transmission rate: 384 kbps). Dahlberg’s casual errors were calculated for obtaining the measures for frequencies from 250 to 8000 Hz. RESULTS: casual errors between F and T measures were very similar, being greater for frequencies above 4 kHz. The differences between F and T measures were no greater than the variability reported for real ear measures. CONCLUSION: probe microphone measures obtained via telecounselling provides reliable results and similar to those obtained by standard procedures.
Hearing; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss; Telemedicine
