The COVID-19 pandemic and upgrades of CI speech processors for children: part I-procedure of speech processor upgrade

Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of upgrading speech processors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Adopting concepts from "lean thinking", we optimized hospital workflows to allow speech processors to be upgraded despite the obstacles arising from national guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. The study involved 297 children, aged from 7.3 to 18.0 years, whose processors were upgraded on five consecutive Saturdays during a time of peak COVID-19 in Poland.

Results: The optimized workflow allowed us to conduct speech processor upgrades during a time of peak COVID-19 in Poland. The upgrades were conducted as scheduled, patient flow was smooth, appropriate social distancing was kept, and no reports of COVID-19 infection in our patients in the 2 weeks after their visit were received.

Conclusion: Upgrading of speech processors in children is still feasible under coronavirus conditions.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cochlear implant; Pediatric; Upgrade.