KAMC pioneers remote cochlear implant adjustments in Middle East and Africa

SAUDI ARABIA— King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in Makkah, part of the Makkah Health Cluster, has successfully used Remote Assist technology to adjust a patient’s implanted cochlear device without the need for an in-person clinic visit.

This development is being hailed as the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, highlighting the region’s growing adoption of advanced telemedicine and virtual clinic solutions.

Cochlear implants are sophisticated medical devices that restore hearing to individuals with severe hearing loss by bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear.

Traditionally, patients with these implants require multiple follow-up visits—sometimes as many as seven to ten appointments in the first year—to fine-tune the device settings and ensure optimal hearing performance.

These repeated visits can be particularly challenging for patients who live far from specialized centers or have limited mobility, often resulting in long travel times and additional expenses.

With the introduction of Remote Assist technology, KAMC has transformed this process.

Now, patients can connect with their audiologists through secure video calls, allowing clinicians to remotely adjust settings such as volume, bass, and treble, and even troubleshoot issues in real time.

This is made possible by connecting the patient’s sound processor to specialized software via a smartphone app, enabling live adjustments that previously required face-to-face appointments.

The benefits of this approach are substantial. First and foremost, it saves patients considerable time and effort, eliminating the need for frequent travel to the clinic.

This is especially valuable for those who reside in remote areas or have difficulty accessing transportation.

Additionally, remote care ensures that patients receive timely, high-quality medical attention, regardless of their location.

 Clinical studies have shown that remote adjustments are just as effective as in-person visits, with high satisfaction rates reported for ease of use, call clarity, and overall effectiveness.

Moreover, this achievement reflects the ongoing commitment of the Cochlear Implantation Center at KAMC, which has performed over 250 successful cochlear implant surgeries since its inception.

 The center’s adoption of cutting-edge digital medicine technologies demonstrates its role as a leader in specialized healthcare services in the region.

The broader impact of this innovation is clear: by leveraging telemedicine, KAMC is not only improving the patient experience but also setting a new standard for accessible, efficient, and patient-centred care.

 As more healthcare providers in the Middle East and Africa consider similar technologies, the hope is that remote care will become a standard offering, ensuring that all patients, regardless of where they live, can benefit from the latest advances in medical science.

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