In comparison to a behind-the-ear processor (BTE, e.g. SONNET 2), off-the-ear processors (OTE, e.g. RONDO) combine all the technology of a CI speech processor in one housing and are becoming increasingly popular (Figure 1). When deciding on such a system, comfort is often the priority. The RONDO 3 is the latest OTE from MED-EL. It has signal pre-processing including directional microphone technology as part of the Automatic Sound Management System 3.0 (ASM 3.0) -- like the current BTE, the SONNET 2. To investigate the effect of ASM 3.0 in different microphone positions, a clinical study is being conducted. Figure 2 shows the functional principle of the ASM 3.0. The "Adaptive Intelligence" controls the different instances of signal processing depending on the acoustic situation in which the CI user is located. This study's primary aim is comparing speech understanding in noise with ASM 3.0 vs. with ASM 1.0 when using the BTE (SONNET 2) and OTE (RONDO 3) processors.

The influence of signal preprocessing of OTE and BTE processors on CI users' hearing in noise

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm, that on behalf of the Cochlear Implant centers of the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam to invite you to attend the 16th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation to Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

Yours sincerely, on behalf of the CI Centers at Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC,