Ponto Trial Companion App Supports and Engages Patients in Trial Process for Bone Anchored Hearing Solutions

Somerset, NJ  April 23– Oticon Medical introduces the Ponto Trial Companion App, a simple-to-use app that provides an easy way for patients to evaluate whether bone anchored hearing and the Ponto Sound System are the right decision for them. By improving patient engagement in the trial process for the Ponto Sound Processor, the Ponto Trial Companion App benefits both patients and hearing care practitioners. The app guides patients to experience different listening situations, from quiet home settings to more demanding environments, like restaurants, and rate their hearing experience. Patients can then email their ratings reports directly to their hearing care professional.  During office visits, the rating report helps to guide patient decision making and allow hearing care providers to program the Ponto Sound Processor appropriately based on the patient’s most common listening situations. 

A recent study¹ found that without the right experience and the right information, almost 40 percent of clinically suitable patients decide not to proceed with bone anchored hearing solutions in the pre-operative stage.  The Ponto Trial Companion supports patients in the trial process by encouraging them to rate their experience in a variety of sound situations, so they gain the information they need to access how well the sound processor benefits them and their unique hearing loss. The app format makes it quick and easy to record ratings while patients are in the actual listening situations, and equally easy for them to share those ratings with their hearing care professional. Patient engagement in the trial process is improved and the connection with the hearing healthcare provider is enhanced.

The Ponto Trial Companion features three default listening situations: conversation in quiet, conversation in noise and sounds in outdoor environments.  Patients have the option to add a fourth situation from a list that includes classroom, office meeting, in car, watching TV, playground or sporting event. Each listening situation can be ranked from very poor to very good and brief comments added, for example, “hearing was poor because the restaurant was extremely loud” or “people were speaking in the background, but I could still hear the TV.” When a minimum of seven ratings have been completed, patients can email the ratings report directly to their hearing care professional.  

Patients are encouraged to distribute their rating opportunities across the trial period, so they get the most benefit from the trial process. This allows them to experience the Ponto Sound Processor in the everyday environments that are important to them, so they have the information and experience they need to make an informed decision.

The Ponto Trial Companion App is available for free download from the App Store or Google Play in nine languages.  The language of the app will adjust automatically depending on the language of the patient’s phone. For more information about the Ponto Trial Companion App and Oticon Medical visit www.OticonMedical.com/us.

About Oticon Medical

Because Sound Matters . . .

Oticon Medical is a global company in implantable hearing solutions, dedicated to bringing the magical world of sound to people at every stage of life. As a member of one of the world’s largest groups of hearing care companies, we share a close link with Oticon and direct access to the latest advancements in hearing research and technologies. Our competencies span more than a century of innovations in sound processing and decades of pioneering experience in hearing implant technology. 

By working collaboratively with patients, physicians and hearing care professionals, we ensure that every solution we create is designed with user needs in mind. We share an unwavering commitment to provide innovative solutions and support that enhance quality of life for people wherever life may take them. Because we know how much sound matters.